HISTORY 


SIXTIETH  REGIMENT 


NEW  YORK  STATE  VOLUNTEERS, 


FROM  THE  COMMENCEMENT  OF  ITS  ORGANIZATION  IN  JULY,  1861, 

TO  ITS  PUBLIC  RECEPTION  AT  OGDENSBURGH  AS  A 

VETERAN  COMMAND,  JANUARY  7TH,  1864: 


BY 


RICHARD    EDDY, 


CHAPLAIN. 


PHILADELPHIA,  PA. 
PUBLISHED   BY   THE    AUTHOR, 

133  CONGRESS  STREET. 

1864. 


..".£553 

"^ .  5 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1864,  by 
RICHARD    EDDY, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Eastern 
District  of  Pennsylvania. 


CRISST  &  MARKLEY,  PRINTERS. 


TO 

ALL    FAST    AND    PRESENT 

MEMBERS 

0V  THB 

f  tto  forft  £fett 


WITH   AFFECTIONATE    REMEMBRANCE    OF   THE   DEAD, 
AND  SINCERE  GOOD  WISHES  FOR  THE  LIVING; 


HON.  AMAZIAH  B.  JAMES, 

TO    WHOM    INDEBTEDNESS    IS    THANKFULLY   ACKNOWLEDGED 

FOR   THE    PRIVILEGE    OF   BEING   ENROLLED    WITH 

MY  COMPANIONS  IN  THE  MILITARY  SE-RVICB 

OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  . 

These 'pages  are  gratefully  inscribed 

BY  THE  AUTHOB. 


PREFACE. 


THE  following  pages  have  been  written  chiefly  from  a  de 
sire  to  gratify  the  families  and  friends  of  those  connected  with 
the  60th  Regiment,  by  placing  before  them  a  true  account 
of  the  varied  vicissitudes  through  which  that  command  has 


So  much  of  the  book  as  claims  to  be  a  statement  of  fact, 
may  be  relied  upon  as  being  strictly  true.  The  opinions  of 
men  and  of  measures,  expressed  from  time  to  time,  are  my 
own,  and  no  one  else  should  be  held  responsible  for  them. 
Although  it  is  my  belief  that,  in  the  main,  they  are  also  the 
opinions  of  a  large  majority  of  the  regiment,  and,  in  some 
cases,  express  a  unanimous  conviction,  I  wish  it  to  be  under 
stood  that,  except  where  it  may  otherwise  be  positively  stated, 
I  do  not  offer  them  as  the  speculations  of  any  one  besides 
myself. 

The  events  herein  recorded,  as  transpiring  prior  to  the  20th 
of  February,  1863,  are  those  which,  for  the  most  part,  came 
under  my  own  observation ;  which  fact,  I  beg  the  reader  to 
bear  in  mind,  as  accounting  for  the  egotism,  which  I  knew 
not  how  to  avoid,  in  giving  a  narrative  of  personal  expe 
riences. 

I  acknowledge  obligations  to  many,  for  help  in  perfecting 

(v) 


VI  PREFACE. 

the  book,  but  hope^  that  I  may  not  be  thought  to  underesti 
mate  the  aid  afforded  by  others,  by  here  recording  my  especial 
gratitude  to  Quartermaster  Merritt,  and  to  Adjutant  Willson. 

Associating,  as  I  did  for  so  many  months,  with  those  whose 
military  career  I  here  attempt  to  record, — a  period  of  time 
which,  so  varied  were  its  vicissitudes,  that  I  cannot  recall  it 
without  the  deepest  and  tenderest  emotion, — I  have,  in  making 
up  these  pages,  cherishea  the  hope  that  I  might  thus  secure 
a  more  lasting  remembrance  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  have 
so  nobly  dared  and  suffered  for  our  beloved  country. 

RICHARD  EDDY. 

PHILADELPHIA,  March,  1864. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

DEDICATION iii 

PREFACE v 


THE    ORGANIZATION. 

Governor  Morgan  calls  the  33d  N.  Y.  State  Militia1  into  service— Colonel  Brim  dago 
lays  out  the  work — Organization  of  the  Companies — How  Seniority  of  Rank 
was  Determined — Flag  Presented  to  Company  "  A" — Chaplaincy — First  Reli 
gions  Service— General  Thornrtike's  Request— Prayer  Meetings— My  Quarters 
—Flag  Presented  to  Company  "  D" — Colonel  Brunddfee  goes  to  Albany — Certi 
ficate  sent — Captain  Goodrich  before  the  Board — The  Officers  Opposed  to  his 
Promotion  over  Brundage — Hon.  W.  A.Wheelej  Presents  the  National  Colors 
—Disposition  of  Time — Quarters  and  Rations — Arrival  of  Colonel  Hay  ward — 
His  Commission  and  Speech — The  Grand  Flourish — Interview  with  t'he  Colo 
nel — His  Extravagant  Speech — Vote  on  the  Chaplaincy — Mustering  in — Elec 
tion  in  Company  "A" — Presentation  of  the  State  Banner — Speeches  on  the 
Occasion — Change  from  Militia  to  Volunteers — Order  under  which  the  Regi 
ment  Organized — Names  from  the  Descriptive  Book — Strength  of  Regiment 
on  leaving  Camp  Wheeler 1 

II. 

GOING   INTO    SERVICE. 

My  Determination — Hon.  A.  B.  James'  Letter  Endorsed  by  Hons.  C.  G.  Myers  and 
W.  H.  Dart — Audience  with  Governor  Morgan — The  Certificate  Found — The 
.  Governor's  Assurance — Transportation  Furnished — Report  to  Colonel  Hay- 
ward —  His  Embarrassment  —  His  Interview  with  the  Governor  —  The  Regi 
ment  in  New  York — Flags  Presented — The  Colonel's  Speech — The  "  Pious  Re 
giment  "  at  Baltimore — The  Regiment  at  Washington— Troubled  Spirits — A 
Problem  to  be  worked  out 41 

III. 

RAILROAD   DUTY. 

Disposition  of  the  Companies  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad — Colonel  Rob 
inson  Acting-Brigadier — Importance  of  the  Duty — The  Vigilance  Committee 
—  Looking  out  a  Camp  in  the  Rain  —  The  Colonel  Informed  of  the  Feeling 
against  him  —  His  Speech  to  the  Men  —  The  Problem  unsolved  —  Camp 
Morgan  —  Mediation  —  Further  Disposition  of  the  Companies  —  Accident 
to  McDonald  —  The  Letter  to  the  Colonel  —  His  Communication  —  Death 
of  H.  W.  Powers  — Railroad' Circular— Moving  Camp  — Camp  Rathbone  — 
Importance  of  Correct  Spelling — Another  Letter  —  The  Visitors  —  Colonel 
Robinson's  Advice  —  Colonel  Hnv'ward's  Efforts  to  Please  —  Sad  Affair  at 


Ellicott's  Mills  — Court  of  Inquiry —  "Requisition  on  de  Guard "— Postal 
Affairs  in.  November— Trip  to  Washington— Letters  by  the  bushel— First  Vi 
sit  from  the  Paymaster — Money  sent  North — Moving  Camp — The  Location — 


False  Tradition — Death  of  H.W.  Dunn — Captain  Redington  in  Arrest — Change 
in  Position  of  Company  "  C  "  and  "  II  "—Camp  Fidgetty— Retaliatory  Charges 


Vlll  CONTENTS. 

PAQI. 

—Sad  Accident  on  the  Railroad  —  A  Bag  of  Good  Things  —  Sickness— The 
Measles — Regimental  Hospital — Mrs.  S.  W.  Kuster — Death  of  A.  Geer,  J.  Ka- 
vanagh,  8.  P.  Melvin,  M.  Stevens,  H.  Adrain,  H.  E.  Meacham— Letters  Mailed 
in  December — Death  of  L.  Duprey —  Colonel  Hayward  sends  in  his  Resigna 
tion—Singular  Epidemic— First  Snow — Deep  Mud— The  Barracks  Attacked 
by  the  "Wind— The  Measles  Decrease  -  Shocking  Death  of  E.  H.  Porter— Colon 
nel  Hay  ward's  Discharge  —  Unnecessary  Humiliation —  Petition  for  Lieuten 
ant-Colonel  Goodrich's  Promotion— Paymaster  Elliott — Amount  sent  Home- 
Justice  to  Colonel  Hayward 46 

IV. 

LIFE    IN   BARRACKS. 

Location,  Form  and  Size  of  Barracks  —  Named  Camp  Preston  King  —  Quarters  of 
other  Companies— Railroad  Duty  thought  Degrading — Accident  to  J.  L.  For 
ward —Unexpected  Arrival  of  Colonel  Greene— His  Antecedents— Impression 
—  Colonel's  first  Work  —  Arms  Inspected  —  Efforts  to  get  the  Regiment  to 
gether—Death  of  0.  C.  Dunton— Gift  of  Testaments— Good  Things  from  Home 
—The  Mittens— Mrs.  Emerson's  Letter — Letters  Mailed  in  January — Books 
and  Tracts  Received — Singing  in  Religious  services — Sudden  Death  of  Edmond 
Mason  —  Social  Gathering  at  Camp  Loane  —  Death  of  D.  P.  Whitman— 2'2d  of 
February — Regimental  Drill — Company  "  Q" — The  Martyr  to  his  Religion — 
Drumming  Out  of  Camp— Letters  Mailed  in  February — Rumors— The  Move — 
Death  of  Lieutenant  Eastman — Promotions— Colonel  D.  S.  Miles  our  Briga 
dier — Captain  Jones  Proposes  to  Capture  the  Merrimac — Board  of  Examiners 
for  Crowley — His  Removal — Promotion  of  Sergeant  N.  M.  Dickenson — Head 
quarters  Moved  to  Camp  Miles  —  Changes  in  Location  of  Companies  —  My 
Quarterly  Report — Colonel  Miles  Opposes  our  Going  to  Washington — Letters 
Mailed  in  March  —  Thanksgiving  —  Court-Martial  Proceedings  —  Escape  of 
Davenport  —  Pay-day  —  Unfortunate  Death  of  Wallace  Smith  — Lieutenant 
Gleason  Returns  with  Recruits  —  Trip  to  Washington  —  Decision  from  Good 
Authority— Who  shall  be  Major— Letters  Mailed  in  April— Promotions- Pe 
tition  for  Captain  Redington  to  Resign — His  Appeal — General  Greene's  Fare 
well  Order  —  The  Officers'  Letter  —  Major  James  Arrives  —  Important  Tele 
graph  73 

V. 

HARPER'S  FERRY  AND  BOLIVAR. 

Six  Companies  Leave  the  Relay— Companies  "B,"  "C,"  "G,"  and  "I,"  Remain- 
Arrival  at  Sandy  Hook — Great  Confusion — No  Artillery — Batteries  Arrive — 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Hayward — General  Saxtonin  Command — The  Sixtieth  the 
First  to  Reach  the  Sacred  Soil  —  Harper's  Ferry  —  Bolivar  Heights  —  Line  of 
Battle — Night  Alarm — Colonel  Ullman's  Nervousness — The  Reconnoissance — 
Confiscated  Hog — The  Repulse — Brigadier-General  Slough — He  Takes  our  Ad 
jutant — The  New  Line  of  Battle — Pickets  Driven  in — Change  of  Base — The 
Baggage  Covers  the  Retreat — Camp  Hill— The  Sharpshooters  Draw  the  Reb 
el's  Fire — The  Night  Fight — Another  Reconnoissance — Another  Wet  Night — 
Sunday  Rest — Letters  Mailed  in  May 101 

VI. 

THE    SHEJfANDOAH   YALLEY. 

General  Sigel  in  Command — Marching  Orders— The  Guard  Left  Behind — "Get  Ao- 
customed  to  it" — A  Weary  Night— Charlestown — John-  Brown's  "  Soul  goes 
Marching  on"— Bivouac  at  Smithfield — More  Rain — Fainting— Clothing  Aban 
doned — Fording — Post  of  Honor— Winchester— The  City  Hall — Confiscations 
— Deaths — Provost  Guard  Duty— Living  on  the  Country — Reception  of  General 
Banks'  Troops— Serenade— Review— Religious  Service— Leave  of  Absence — 
Major  James'  Letter  to  the  War  Department — Return — General  Sigel's  Deci 
sion — The  Band  Dissatisfied — The  Valley — Early  Settlements— First  Family 
Titles — Visit  to  General  Greene — Rebel  Officer  Arrested  at  New  Town — Camp 
Tait — Return  of  Company  "  H" — Mrs.  Heater  and  her  Accommodating  Hus 
band — General  Slough's  Parting  Promise  to  them — Foraging — Gleason  and 


CONTENTS.  IX 

PAGE. 

a  she  Rebel  Comfort  each  other — The  Amiable  Daughter — Judgment  Ren 
dered—Secreted  Guns— The  Search— Trophies  brought  in— Drills— The  Color 
Guard  on  Night  Duty— Artillery  Reinforcements— William  Moss,  Jr.,  in  Love 
— Advocates  an  Accommodating  Marriage— New  Use  of  "  Ditto" — Visit  to  Mr. 
Stickles — The  White  Slave— A  Scarred  Back — The  Agreement — Night  Trip — 
The  Joyful  Return— Chaplain  Carpenter— Colonel  Goodrich  to  go  to  Wash 
ington—Resignation  of  Lieutenant  Shedd — Lieutenant  Greene  Appointed  and 
Assigned — Camp  Goodrich — Further  Symptoms  of  Mr.  Moss'  Love — His  Let 
ter — Death  of  Jno.  Kellison — Resignation  of  Lieutenant  Spencer — Sickness 
Commences— Fainting  on  Parade— Typhus  Fever— Sanitary  Commission- 
Sharpshooters  Organize— Lieutenant  Clark  Captures  a  Rebel  Officer— General 
Pope  in  Command — Death  of  S.  R.  C.  Thompson— Muster — Another  Love-Let 
ter— Lieutenant-Colonel  starts  Home— Experiences  at  Winchester— Leaves 
rue  at  Baltimore • 108 

VII. 

UNNECESSARY  MARCHES. 

Citizens  of  Winchester  Frightened— Ride  with  the  Sutler— Regiment  at  Front 
Royal  —  Death  of  F.  J.  Champlain  and  H.  B.  Rowley  —  Halt  at  Washington 
Court  House  —  March  again,  Colonel  Tait  in  Command  —  General  Cooper's 
Dutch  Aid  —  Colonel  Tait  in  Arrest  —  Ullman  in  Command  —  Cold  Night  — 
Camp  near  Warrenton — Luxuries— Death  of  A.Wells — The  Fever  Increasing — 
Dr.  Gale  sick— Hard  Shell  Baptists — Their  Opposition  to  Benevolent  Institu 
tions —  Their  Complacency  —  Change  of  Commanders  —  General  Greene  our 
Brigadrer — General  Augur's  Special  Interest  in  us — Lieutenant  Dickinson's 
Adventure  —  The  Sick  sent  to  Warrenton  —  Marching  Back  —  The  Careless 
Clerk — Rain — Hedgeman  River — A  Wet  Night  at  Games'  Cross  Roads — Search 
for  Food — Beauties  of  Slavery— The  Confederacy  a  Reaction  Against  Civiliza 
tion — Southern  Amalgamation — The  Doings  of  the  Elephant — Quarters  in  the 
Church — More  than  usual  Snoring  in  the  Pews — Sickness  Increased — Adju 
tant  Gale's  Report— March  to  Washington  C.  H. — A  General  Overhauling — 
Condition  of  our  Baggage  —  The  four  Companies  Rejoin  us  —  Colonel  James' 
Letter — Sixty-four  cases  of  Fever— Death  of  A.  Bromaghim,  B.  F.  Brooks,  C. 
Force  and  L.  E.  Comstock — Colonel  Goodrich  Reports  the  Regiment  Not  Fit 
for  Duty— Paid  off  again 130 

VIII. 

SAD   DAYS. 

Moving  Camp— One  hundred  cases  of  Fever— Death  of  Job  Brayton,  V.  Merihue 
and  Lieutenant  White— The  Death  Scene— Promotions'  of  Lieutenant  Fitch 
and  Sergeant  C.  H.  Dickenson— Captain  Ransom  taken  Sick— The  Review- 
Death  of  C.  P.  Chaffee  and  Albert  Smithers — Two  hundred  cases  of  Fever — 
The  Medical  Director's  Opinion— General  Augur's  Application— Our  Medical 
Staff  worn  out— Assistants  sent— Death  of  Corporal  Harrington  and  L.  Beyette 
—Burial  of  Ct.  Sutler— Visit  from  General  Pope's  Medical  Staff— Grand  Parade 
and  Drill— Our  Numbers  and  Condition — Visit  to  General  Pope — Death  of  J. 
Harmer,  G.  Annis,  E,G.  McGee,  Lieutenants  Hogan  and  Clark— The  Funeral 
—Promotion  of  Lieutenant  N.  M.  Dickinson,  Sergeant  Willson  and  Commis 
sary  Sergeant  Robertson — Resignation  of  Captain  Day — Promotion  of  Lieu 
tenants  Snyder  and  Hurst,  and  Sergea'nt  Houghton— The  Medical  Director's 
Decision  —  Death  of  James  Handley  and  E.  Finley  — The  well  men  leave  for 
Warrenton  Springs— Leave  of  Absence— Death  of  F.  Miller— Other  Burials— 
The  Hot  Day— Sending  Off  the  Sick— I  leave  for  Baltimore- A  Restless  Night 
at  Washington  — Narrow  Escape  from  Sunstroke  — Return  to  Warrenton 
Springs wt  143 

IX. 

THE    SULPHUR   SPRINGS. 

The  Springs  formerly  a  Place  of  great  Resort  —  Dearth  of  Lo'cal  Histories  in  Vir 
ginia—Governor  Berkeley's  Ambition— No  Chemical  Analysis  of  the  Water- 
Rev.  Mr.  Stringfellow's  Enthusiasm  —  Original  Sin  —  Theological  Use  of  Sul 
phur  Water  — The  Spring  filled  up  — John  H.  Lee  Buys  the  Place— The  Im 
provements  —  The  Stock  Company— Mr.  Hudgins  —  Session  of  Legislature  at 


CONTENTS. 


PAOI. 


the  Springs  —  Rebel  Hospital  —  How  wo  Appropriated  tho  Room  —  Family 
Jars  — Colonel  M.  Greene's  Records  —  Rebel  Book  — Post  Office  —  Lieut  en- 
ant-Colonel.Brundage  Returns— Death  of  J.  F.  Page,W.  P.  Ellis,  G. W.  Doggett, 
J.  Cardinell,  L.  J.  Barton,  G.  R.  Ries,  and  G.  Sewell  —  Accident  to  Bordwell— 
New  Cases  of  Fever— More  than  Four  Hundred  Sick— Major  James— The  Sur 
geons—Death  of  S.  Blaisdell— Dr.  Gale  "Writes  to  the  Medical  Director— The 
Endorsements  —  Preparations  for  the  Guerrillas  —  Death  of  E.  L.Wright  — Ar 
rival  of  General  Banks  and  Staff — The  Troops  Camp  around  us — Burial  of  the 
Massachusetts  Volunteer — Compelled  to  leave — Five  Hundred  and  twenty- 
five  Sick  Men  sent  away  —  Their  Tedious  Ride  —  Destruction  of  Property  — 
The  Night  March  —  Halt  at  Edwards'  River — Our  Disappointment — Line  of 
Battle — Again  in  Brigade — Marching  and  Countermarching — Dr.  Chambers 
and  self  go  to  Bealton — Dr.  Burbeck — The  Sick  disposed  of— Baggage  Loaded 
—Search  for  the  Regiment.; 154 

X. 

THE    RETREAT   THROUGH   VIRGINIA. 

The  Unsuccessful  Search — The  Regiment  Found — Fight  near  the  Springs — J.  E. 
White  wounded— The  Excited  Officer— Wiard's  Steel-rifled  Battery— White's 
Death — Trip  to  Warrenton — Nothing  to  Eat — Dr.  Chambers  again — The  Dou 
ble  Breakfast— Waterloo  — Cornish  Finds  the  Rebels  — Back  to  Bealton— 
Fight  at  the  Springs —  Hiding  in  the  Woods  —  Luminous  Shoulder-straps  — 
Warrenton  Junction  — Rebels  Near  — Cattlett's  Station  — Rear  Guard  — The 
Bridge  Burned— The  Leader  of  the  Band  must  Die — Destruction  of  the  Train — 
Long  March  to  Get  a  Short  Distance — Captain  Elliott  taken  Prison  or -^-Man- 
assas  Junction — Our  Teams  Unloaded — The  Contents  Destroyed — The  Order, 
to  Destroy  Property — Its  Value  to  us — The  Night  Picket — Fight  near  Certtre- 
ville— A  Severe  Night— The  Long  March— Arlington  Heights— Adjutant  Gale 
Promoted — A  Narrow  Escape — Return  of  Lieutenant  Spencer — His  Second 
Resignation  —  Promotion  of  Sergeant  Nolan  —  Tenallytown  —  Major  James 
Promoted  —  Promotion  of  Captain  Godard,  Lieutenants  Shipman,  Rich  and 
Sergeant  Kelsey— Letters  for  the  Absent — I  go  to  Washington 163 

XL 

THE    MARYLAND    CAMPAIGN. 

Hunting  up  the  Sick — Attack  of  Fever — In  Search  of  the  Regiment  —  Seneca 
Mills — Dangerous  Travelling  Down  the  Canal—  Frederick  City — The  Paroled 
Men  — The  Brigade  Supply  Train— South  Mountain  Battle-ground  —  The 
Wounded— The  Reserves— A  Long  Search— Rebel  Wounded — Find  General 
Greene  — General  McClellan  and  Staff — The  Wounded  Man's  Enthusiasm  — 
Silencing  the  Rebel  Guns — Rejoining  the  Regiment — Casualties — Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Brundage's  Report— Willson  goes  North  with  the  Body  of  the  Colonel 
— The  Band  have  been  Discharged — Strength  of  Regiment— Skirmishers  only 
Engaged — The  Wounded  Rebel  Damns  the  Enfield — The  Dead  on  the  Field — 
Posture  of  the  Slain  —  The  Flag  of  Truce  Violated — Rebel  Prisoners  —  Bio 
graphical  Sketch  of  Colonel  Goodrich 172 

XII. 

RETURN   TOVlRGINlA. 

Marching  Orders — Up  Maryland  Heights — Telegraphing — Rambles — Altitude  of 
the  Heights — We  go  down  to  Sandy  Hook— The  Brigade  out  to  Religious  Ser 
vice — Fording — The  Cunning  Mule — London  Heights — Expensive  Living — 
Clearing  the  Timber — Visit  from  the  President — Petitions  for  the  Promotion 
of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Brundage  and  Captain  Hyde — Moving  Camp — Hospital 
at  the  Ferry — Increasing  Sickness — Rumors  of  Railroad  Duty — The  Jaundice 
—The  Christening— Trial  of  Captain  Hyde— The  Defence— The  Acquittal— 
Willson's  Return  and  Promotion — Convalescents  come  in — Sergeant  L.  Clark 
Promoted — Major  Godard's  Return — My  Mission  to  Baltimore — Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Brundage's  Protest  and  Request —Visit  to  Antietam  — The  Grain 
Growing  on  the  Battle-field  —  Fire  on  the  Mountain  —  One  Hundred  Sick  — 
The  Unjust  Order  —  Contradictory  and  Provoking  Orders  —  Death  of  A.Wal- 
rath  and  T  '->utenant  Reynolds  —  Move  to  the  Valley  —  Change  in  Brigade  — 


CONTENTS.  XI 

I 

PAGE. 

General  N.  J.  Jackson — Winter  Quarters— Disappointment— Move  to  Bolivar 
Heights — General  Greene  and  Dr.  Gale  Return — Lieutenant-Colonel  Tenders 
his  Resignation — Petitions  for  the  Colonelcy — Interview  with  the  Governor — 
General  Greene's  Letter — We  Move  to  the  Ferry — The  Important  Secret  Ser 
vice  —  Petition  for  Captain  Hyde  for  Colonel  —  Headquarters  on  Shenandoah 
Street  —  Our  new  Cook  —  The  Officers'  Private  Meeting  —  Its  Interruption  — 
Death  of  H.  J.  Smith— The  Officers'  Votes— Incomplete  Pay-Rolls—Ordered  to 
go  to  Washington — My  Work  there — Brundage  goes  Home — Promotions  of 
lledingtou,  Young,  Hobart,  and  Eastman  —  Unjust  Appointment  of  Diven  — 
Resignation  of  Lieutenant  King — Major  Godard  Appointed  Provost  Marshal 
— Interview  with  General  Jackson— His  Meddlesome  Interference — Moving 
Headquarters  —  Resignation  of  Lieutenants  Gleason  and  C.  H.  Dickenson  — 
— Strategy — Promotions  of  Sergeants  Adams  and  Ingram — Major  Godard  Re 
signs — Promotions  of  Captain  Thomas  and  Quarter-Master  Merritt — The  Lat 
ter  Declines— Promotion  of  Sergeant  Carter— Total  Number  of  Cases  of  Ty 
phus  Fever 183 

XIII. 

THE   MARCH    TO    DUMFRIES. 

Marching  Orders  —  Delay— I  Stay  Behind  with  the  Quarter-Master  —  Overtaking 
the  Regiment — Fairfax — Poor  Land — Fording  the  Occoquan — Rumors — Ford 
ing  the  Neabsco—  A  Stormy  Night — Bad  Roads— Returning — The  Noon  Re 
past— Snow-storm— Cold  Nights— Merritt's  Fire— A  Permanent  Halt 198 

XIV. 

CAMP   COMFORT. 

Location  of  the  Camp  —  How  Redington  became  Lieutenant-Colonel  —  Captain 
Hyde's  Suggestion  —  General  Geary's  Christmas  Order  —  Missing  the  Road  — 
The  Honest  Man—The  Reconnoissance — We  Prepare  for  an  Attack — Arrest 
of  Rich  as  a  Spy — The  Troops  Return — The  Dead  brought  in — Winter  Quar 
ters —  Trip  to  Baltimore  —  The  Albany  Paper — Wisdom  of  Jackson  and  JEled- 
ington— The  Officer's  Consultation — Death  of  Perry  Stacy — House  Warming — 
Order  to  be  in  Readiness — My  Recommendation — It  Avails  Nothing — Dr.  Gale 
Resigns  —Marching  Orders  —  They  are  Countermanded 202 

XV. 

GETTING   OUT   OF   SERVICE. 

On  the  Move  again — A  Good  Day's  March — The  North-East  Storm — Deep  Mud — 
Fording  the  Quantico  —  General  Greene's  Precaution  against  getting  Wet  — 
Mr.  Dunuington's— Deeper  Mud— A  good  Bed  of  Boughs — Slow  Marching — 
Camp  on  the  Pine  Ridge— Camp  Evergreen — Stafford  Court  House — Maple 
Syrup— Snow-Storms — The  Quarter-Master  Detailed — Resignation  of  Captains  * 
Hyde  and  Snyder,  and  Lieutenants  Clark  and  Hurst — Paid  Off— I  Try  to  Get 
Away  with  the  Money — The  Lieutenant-Colonel  Calls  my  Application  Frivol 
ous — I  Apply  to  the  General — Captain  Ransom  Resigns — Breaking  Camp — 
Halt  at  Acquia  Creek — The  Old  Oak— The  Old  Grave — Captain  Montgomery 
Resigns— Building  Fortifications— Leave  of  Absence— Lieutenant  N.  M.  Dick- 
*  inson  Resigns — Speech  to  Company  "A" — Am  Mustered  Out — Receipts  and 
Expenditures— Exorbitant  Prices— Petition  from  the  106th  N.Y.Volunteers...  207 

XVI. 

STATISTICAL. 

Dr.  Gale's  Opinion  of  Cause  of  Typhus  Fever — Religious  Services — Burial  Grounds  at 
Washington  C.  H.  and  Warrenton  Springs— Deaths  Not  Mentioned  elsewhere 
—  Deserters  —  Dishonorably  Discharged  —  Honoi-ably  Discharged  —  Officers 
Honorably  Discharged— Summary  of  Losses— Strength  of  Regiment  Fobru- 
•  ary  20th,  1863 ...  215 


Xii  CONTENTS. 

* 
XVII.  .         PAOB. 

CHANCELLORSVILLE  AND  GETTYSBURG. 

Sources  of  Information — Guard  Duty — General  Muster — Getting  Ready  to  March 
— Off  for  the  Fight — Enthusiasm  for  "  Fighting  Joe" — Good  Roads  and  Long 
Marches — Fruitless  Search — Surprise  and  Capture  of  the  Engineers — Rainy 
Night — Skirmishing— Congratulatory  Order — Muster — A  Yankee  Trick — En 
trenchments—The  llth  Corps  hreak  — Night  Attack  —  Sunday  Fight  — The 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Missing —Wounded  Officers— "'Cutting  Off  Supplies"— 
General  Kane's  Congratulations — Attack  on  the  Train — Incidents  of  Bravery — 
Ca'ptains  Carter  and  Robertson  Resign — Death  of  Sergeant  Hayward — Colonel 
Godard  Arrives — Underhanded  Measures  of  Redington-  Off  for  Gettysburg — 
Severe  March  to  Fairfax  Court  House  —  Godard  takes  Command  —  Deserters 
Shot  at  Leesburg — Ball's  Bluff  Visited — Crossing  to  Maryland — Drunkenness — 
General  Meade — On  Free  Soil  again— Cheers  for  Common  Schools— The  Trains 
Parked  and  Fight  Begun— Captured  Trophies— Strength  of  Regiment— Posi 
tion  of  the  Regiment — Night  Attack — Pursuing  the  Enemy — Richardson,  the 
Spy  —  Lee  Escapes  ac,ross  the  Potomac  —  Redington  Resigns  —  Following  up 
the  Enemy — August  Spent  in  Picket  Duty — Hay  Obtained — Narrow  Escape 
of  the  Butchers — Condition  of  the  Regiment— Charge  Against  Captain  Jones 
— His  Retort— The  Prayer  Meeting — Roll  of  Honor — Arrest  of  Captain  Rob 
ertson — Colors  sent  to  Albany — Mistakes  in  the  Record — Casualties  at  Chan- 
cellorsville  and  Gettysburg — Additional  List  of  Resignations,  Discharges,  Ap 
pointments  and  Promotions 236 

XVIII. 

GOING    TO    A   NEW   FIELD. 

Moving  to  the  Rapidan  —  False  Alarm  —  The  McClellan  Memorial  Rightly  Dis 
posed  of — Marching  Orders — Incidents  of  the  Trip  through  Ohio  and  Indiana 
— Arrival  at  Murfreesboro'— Preparing  to  Winter  there— Going  to  Bridgeport 
— Crossing  the  Tennessee— The  Rebels  Throw  Away  their  Stolen  Garments — 
The  Nis;ht  Attack  at  Wauhatchie  —  Holding  the  Gap  and  Making  Raids  — 
Mustering  for  Pay  — Extract  from  General  Hooker's  Report 281 

XIX. 

THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES.  . 

Moving  to  Lookout  Valley — Rebel  Desertions — What  the  Rebels  are  Fighting  for — 
The  Contraband  Guarding  his  Master — Number  of  Rebel  Deserters — Congra 
tulatory  Order — Preparations  to  Attack  Lookout  Mountain — The  Troops  De 
termined  —  The  Battle  —  The  60th  in  Advance  of  all  others  —  The  Captured 
Flag — Major  Thomas  Wounded — The  Color  Sergeant  twice  hit — Coolness  and 
Bravery  of  Sergeant  Buck — The  Relief— The  Old  Flag  floating  from  the  top 
of  Lookout  —  Rebel  Rations  Left  Behind  — Casualties  — Occupation  of  Rebel 
Tents  on  Missionary  Ridge — Hardee's  Lamentations — The  March  to  Ringgold 
—The  3d  Brigade  Ordered  in— Captain  Greene  Wounded— Miller's  Good  Shots 
—Retreat  of  the  Rebels — Narrow  Escape  of  Colonel  Godard — List  of  Casualties 

*  — Incidents  in  the  Death  of  Sergeant  Fitch,  as  given  in  his  brother's  letter  — 
Return  to  Camp — How  General  Grant  Answered  Bragg — General  Geary's  Con 
gratulatory  Order— President's  Proclamation — Thanksgiving  Hymn — Presi 
dent's  Letter  to  General  Grant— General  Grant's  Congratulatory  Order — Pre 
sentation  of  Captured  Flags — The  Flags  sent  to  Washington—  A  Staff  Officer's 
Account  of  the  Victories— Historic  Significance  of  the  Battle-ground— What 
to  do  with  Lookout  Mountain 2$8 

XX. 

THE    VETERANS. 

Inducements  for  Re-enlisting— The  Regiment  becomes  Veterans— Ordered  Home 
—Complimentary  Notice— Paid  Off  at  Louisville— The  Trip  Home— Accident 
near  Antwerp — Arrival  at  Ogdensburgh— Public  Reception— My  Trip  to  St. 
Lawrence  County— Funeral  Services  for  Sergeant  James  C.  Fitch — Results  of 
the  War — Confessions  of  the  Richmond  Whig — A  new  Historical  Picture— 
Address  of  the  Rebel  Soldiers— Our  Gains  and  Success— Honor  the  President 
—General  Grant  on  Slavery— What  Final  Victory  will  bring  us..! 341 


HISTORY 

OF   THE 

SIXTIETH    REGIMENT 
NEW  YORK  STATE  VOLUNTEERS. 


I. 

THE  ORGANIZATION. 

ON  the  5th  of  July,  1861,  His  Excellency,  Edwin  D.  Mor 
gan,  Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  the  Military  and  Naval  Forces  of  the  same,  issued 
an  order  to  Colonel  Charles  R.  Brundage,  commanding  the 
Thirty-Third  Regiment  N.  Y.  S.  M.,  to  rendezvous  his  regi 
ment  at  Ogdensburgh. 

In  obedience  to  the  order,  the  Colonel  took  all  necessary 
steps,  among  other  things  issuing  the  following : 

Wanted  for  the  Thirty-Third  Regiment  New  York  State  Mili 
tia,  Able-bodied  men,  between  the  ages  of  18  and  45  years.  A 
minor  will  not  be  enlisted  without  the  written  consent  of  his 
parent  or  guardian.  The  term  of  service  is  three  years.  The 
following  is  the  rate  of  pay  now  established : 

OPATIP  Per  Per  TOT  3 

Month.      Year.        Yeara. 

To  a  Serg't  Major,  Quartermaster  Sergeant, 

principal  Musician  and  Chief  Bugler,  each,  $23  $276  $828 

First  Sergeant  of  a  company 22  264  792 

All  other  Sergeants,  each 19  228  684 

Corporals 15  180  540 

Buglers  .... 15  180  540 

Musicians ...14  168  504 

Privates 13  156  468 

1  (1) 


>i  ••;»•**.•    :    rtu.'.v 

2  THE   ORGANIZATION. 

In  addition  to  the  pay  as  above  stated,  one  ration  per  day,  and 
an  abundant  supply  of  good  clothing  is  allowed  to  every  soldier. 
Quarters,  fuel,  and  medical  attendance  are  always  provided  by 
the  Government  without  deduction  from  the  soldier's  pay.  If  a 
soldier  should  become  disabled  in  the  line  of  his  duties,  the  laws 
provide  for  him  a  pension ;  or  he  may,  if  he  prefer  it,  obtain 
admission  into  the  Soldiers'  Home,  which  will  afford  him  a  com 
fortable  home  as  long  as  he  may  wish  to  receive  its  benefits. 

THE    THIRTY-THIRD    REGIMENT. 

Col.  CHARLES  R.  BRUNDAGE,  Commanding, 
Lieut.  Col.  CHAUNCEY  M.  CLARK.  Major  J.  W.  SMITH. 

The  following  officers  and  persons  have  been  appointed  to  re 
cruit  the  Thirty-Third  Kegiment: 

Flank  Co.  R,  1st  Lieut.  Thomas  Elliott,  Ogdensburgh ;  Co.  B, 
J.  C.  0.  Redington,  Ogdensburgh;  Co.  C,  2d  Lieut.  Mahlon 
Bromigham,  Lisbon  Centre ;  Co.  D,  Capt.  Hugh  Smith,  Madrid ; 
Co.  E,  William  B.  Goodrich,  Canton;  Co.  F,  P.  S.  Sinclair, 
King's  Hall,  Malone ;  Co.  G,  Capt.  Henry  C.  Eastman,  Stock^ 
holm ;  Co.  H,  Capt.  David  Day,  2d,  Macomb ;  Co.  I,  Capt.  Si 
meon  Wells,  East  Pitcairn ;  Flank  Co.  L,  1st  Lieut.^Fames  M. 
King,  South  Canton. 

tF,  M.  Ransom,  of  Champlain,  has  been  legally  appointed  by 
Col.  Brund^ige  to  recruit  a  Company  for  this  Regiment. 

This  Regiment  is  now  accepted  by  the  Governor,  and  will  be 
rendezvoused  at  Ogdensburgh,  where  it  will  be  subsisted  from 
the  time  they  are  received  at  said  rendezvous,,  or  until  mustered 
into  the  service  of  the  United  States.  Steady,  active,  sober  and 
healthy  men,  between  the  ages  of  18  and  45  years,  who  wish 
to  join  a  first-class  regiment  composed  of  the  sturdy  sons  of  St. 
Lawrence  and  Franklin  counties,  commanded  by  competent  offi 
cers,  and  who  wish  to  be  provided  with  good  quarters,  good  pay 
and  good  rations,  will  lose  no  time  in  reporting  themselves  at 
any  of  the  above-named  company  headquarters,  or  at  the  rendez 
vous  at  Ogdensburgh. 

A  few  non-commissioned  officers  and  musicians  wanted.  An 
excellent  and  abundant  ration  is  supplied  daily  to  each  man. 
Every  Volunteer  will  be  paid  at  the  rate  of  fifty  cents,  in  lieu 


THE    ORGANIZATION.  3 

of  forage,  for  every  twenty  miles  of  travel  from  his  home  to  the 
place  of  muster;  and  when  discharged,  at  the  same  rate  from 
the  place  of  his  discharge  to  his  home ;  and  in  addition  thereto, 
the  sum  of  one  hundred  dollars,  and  probably  at  the  next  session 
of  Congress,  in  addition  thereto,  a  law  will  be  passed  granting 
them  a  bounty  of  160  acres  of  land.  In  case  of  death,  this  will 
be  received  by  their  relatives. 

GOD  SAVE  THE  UNION  ! 

FRANCIS  E.  PARKER,  Adjutant. 

This  was  promptly  responded  to,  and  the  regiment  was  fitted 
up  as  follows  : 

William  B.  Goodrich,  William  Montgomery,  and  Benjamin 
R.  Clark,  Captain  of  Company  L,  Thirty-Third  N.  Y.  Militia, 
enlisted  men  in  Canton,  Hermon,  Potsdam,  Russell,  Madrid, 
Colton,  Parishville,  and  Gouverneur,  St.  Lawrence  county. 
They  went  to  Camp  Wrheeler,  September  10,  105  in  number; 
but  after  medical  examination,  four  were  rejected,  leaving  101, 
who  organized  by  electing  William  B.  Goodrich,  Captain; 
Benjamin  R.  Clark,  First  Lieutenant;  William  Montgomery, 
Second  Lieutenant.  Being  the  first  company  to  organize, 
they  obtained  the  right  of  the  line,  and  were  designated 
Company  "  A." 

.  Captain  David  Day,  2d,  and  First  Lieutenant  John  Sny- 
der,  both  of  Company  H,  Thirty-Third  N.  Y.  Militia,  en 
listed  men  in  Macomb,  Gouverneur,  and  Depeyster,  St.  Law 
rence  county,  and  went  to  Camp  Wheeler  with  forty  men, 
September  9th.  They  organized  by  electing  David  Day,  2d 
Captain,  John  Snyder,  First  Lieutenant,  James  Hurst,  Sec 
ond  Lieutenant,  arid  took  the  left  of  the  line,  being  called 
Company  «  B." 

John  C.  0.  Redington,  a  private  in  the  Eighteenth  N.  Y.  S. 
Volunteers,  Thomas  Hobart,  a  private  in  Seventh  Mass.  Vol 
unteers,  John  E.  Wilson  and  Nehemiah  Wiley,  enlisted  men 
in  Hammond,  Morristown,  Oswegatchie,  Edwards,  Rossie, 


4  THE    ORGANIZATION. 

Russell  and  Fowler,  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  went  to  Camp 
Wheeler,  September  12th,  with  32  men.  John  C.  0.  Red- 
ington  was  elected  Captain,  James  Young,  First  Lieutenant, 
Thomas  Hobart,  Second  Lieutenant.  They  became  the  right 
centre  company,  or  fifth  in  line,  and  were  called  Company 
"  C." 

Second  Lieutenant  James  M.  King,  of  Company  "  K," 
Thirty-Third  N.  Y.  Militia,  Winslow  M.  Thomas,  and  George 
M.  Gleason  enlisted  men  in  Russell,  Edwards,  Pierpoint  and 
Canton,  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  went  to  Camp  Wheeler 
September  llth  with  53  men.  They  elected  Winslow  M. 
Thomas,  Captain,  James  M.  King,  First  Lieutenant,  George 
M.  Gleason,  Second  Lieutenant,  and  took  position  as  third 
company  from  the  right,  and  the  name  of  Company  "  D." 

William  H.  Hyde,  P.  Shelly  Sinclair,  and  George  G.  Cor- 
nish  enlisted  men  in  Malone,  Bangor,  and  Brandon,  Franklin 
county,  and  went  to  Camp  Wheeler  September  10th  with  51 
men.  William  H.  Hyde  was  elected  Captain,  P.  Shelly  Sin 
clair,  First  Lieutenant,  and  Hosea  C.  Reynolds,  Second  Lieu 
tenant.  They  took  position  as  seventh  company  from  the 
right,  and  were  called  Company  "  E." 

Thomas  Elliott,  a  private  in  the  Seventh  N.  Y.  Militia, 
•which  regiment  had  been  in  service  thirty  days  in  defence 
of  Washington,  by  special  order  of  the  President,  enlisted 
men  in  Heuvelton,  Hermon,  De  Kalb  and  Lisbon,  St.  Law 
rence  county,  and  went  to  Camp  Wheeler  September  10th 
with  54  men.  Thomas  Elliott  was  elected  Captain,  John  De- 
lany,  First  Lieutenant,  Milton  F.  Spencer,  Second  Lieutenant. 
They  took  position  immediately  to  the  left  of  the  right  com 
pany,  and  were  designated  as  Company  "  F." 

Captain  Hugh  Smith,  of  Company  "  D,"  Thirty-Third  N.  Y. 
Militia,  enlisted  men  in  Madrid,  Waddington,  Louisville,  Mas- 
sena  and  Norfolk,  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  went  to  Camp 
Wheeler  September  llth  with  27  men.  Hugh  Smith  was 
elected  Captain,  Orson  M.  Foot,  First  Lieutenant,  John  Dun- 


THE    ORGANIZATION.  5 

don,  Jr.,  Second  Lieutenant.  They  took  position  on  the  right 
of  the  left  company,  and  were  called  Company  "  G." 

James  M.  Ransom,  Loring  E.  White,  and  Marcellus  L. 
Fitch  enlisted  men  in  Champlain,  Mooers,  Ellenburgh,  Altbna, 
Chazy  and  Saranac,  Clinton  county,  and  Lisbon,  St.  Lawrence 
1  county,  and  went  to  Camp  Wheeler,  September  20th,  with  45 
1  men.  James  M.  Ransom  was  elected  Captain,  Loring  E.  White, 
j First  Lieutenant,  and  Marcellus  L.  Fitch,  Second  Lieutenant. 
They  took  position  as  the  left  centre  company,  or  sixth  in  line, 
and  were  named  Company  "  H." 

Rev.  Jesse  H.  Jones  and  Guy  Hogan  enlisted  men  in  Law 
rence,  Stockholm  and  Brasher,  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  in 
Dickinson,  Franklin  county,  and  went  to  Camp  Wheeler  Sep 
tember  24th,  with  55  men.  Jesse  H.  Jones  was  elected  Cap* 
tain,  Guy  Hogan,  First  Lieutenant,  Lyman  M.  Shedd,  Second 
Lieutenant.  The  position  of  the  company  was  fourth  in  line, 
immediately  to  the  right  of  the  right  centre  company,  and  it 
was  designated  Company  "  I." 

Abel  Godard  and  Captain  Henry  C.  Eastman,  of  Company 
"  C,"  Thirty-Fourth  N.  Y.  Militia,  enlisted  men  in  Stockholm 
and  Richville,  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  went  to  Camp  Wheeler 
September  14th,  with  42  men-.  Abel  Godard  was  elected 
Captain,  Henry  C.  Eastman,  First  Lieutenant,  Abner  B.  Ship- 
man,  Second  Lieutenant.  They  were  the  eighth  company  in 
line,  and  occupied  position  as  the  centre  of  the  left  wing,  and 
were  called  Company  "  K." 

Seniority  of  rank  among  the  line  officers  was  not  deter 
mined  by  their  position  in  the  line,  but  by  the  date  of  their 
election,  and  was  at  first  readily  ascertained  by  reference  to 
the  letter  which  designated  their  company.  Subsequently, 
AS  a  change  in  the  commanding  officer  of  any  one  company 
made  it  junior  to  all  the  others  —  although  it  still  retained 
the  letter  at  first  given  it  —  it  became  necessary  to  refer  to 
the  date  of  rank  as  given  in  the  commissions. 

Captains   Redington,  Thomas,  Hyde   and   Elliott  were  all 


6  THE   ORGANIZATION. 

elected  September  13th,  and  agreed    to  decide  their  rank  by 
lot.     By  mere  luck,  Capt.  Redington  became  the  senior. 

'  Several  of  the  companies  had  national  flags  presented  to 
them.  I  am  only  conversant  with  the  circumstances  attend 
ant  on  the  presentation  of  two.  The  citizens  of  Canton  gave 
one  to  Company  "A"  on  the  morning  of  their  going  into  camp; 
Prof.  Massena  Goodrich,  of  the  Theological  School,  spoke 
for  the  donors,  and  Capt.  Wm.  B.  Goodrich,  responded  for 
the  company.  Since  his  death,  the  words  uttered  by  him  on 
that  occasion  have  a  peculiar  significance.  The  presentation 
was  made  in  front  of  his  law  office ;  and  his  unpremeditated 
remarks  were,  as  noted  down  at  the  time  by  Col.  Henry  Bar 
ber,  in  substance,  as  follows : 

My  social  position  and  pecuniary  circumstances  are  such  that 
I  could  stay  at  home  and  enjoy  the  society  of  my  family,  who  are 
dearer  than  life  to  me,  as  well  as  most  people  can.  I  have  not 
taken  this  step  rashly ;  I  have  not  been  influenced  by  any  sud 
den  excitement.  I  have  thoroughly  considered  the  whole  matter, 
and  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  it  is  a  duty  I  owe  my  coun 
try,  to  surrender  up  my  life,  if  need  be,  in  her  defence. 

As  I  said  in  the  beginning,  I  cannot  make  a  speech  now ;  but 
if  God  spares  my  life  to  return  and  meet  you  again,  I  will  then 
make  a  speech.  But  one  thing,  fellow-citizens,  you  may  rest 
assured  of —  I  shall  never  disgrace  that  beautiful  flag  you  have  just 
presented  me.  I  shall  stand  by  it,  and  defend  it  to  the  last;  and 
if  I  fall,  you  may  depend  upon  it,  it  will  be  at  the  post  of  duty.* 

Before  any  company  had  been  organized,  I  opened  a  corre 
spondence  with  Col.  Brundage  with  reference  to  the  Chaplaincy. 
He  expressed  his  pleasure  at  my  desire  to  obtain  the  place, 
and  promised  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  bring  it  about.  On 

*  This  flag  was  left  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  in  June,  1862,  and 
remained  there  till  the  following  September,  when  the  rebels 
permitted  it  to  be  used  to  cover  the  body  of  Col.  Miles,  over  which 
it  lay  during  the  transit  of  the  body  to  Baltimore,  and  until  the 
burial.  It  is  now  with  the  company. 


THE    ORGANIZATION.  7 

the  17th  of  September  he  wrote  me  that  the  companies  were 
nearly  all  in,  and  that  it  was  desirable  that  I  should  commence 
services  at  once.  Subsequently,  I  received  a  certificate  from 
him  of  the  same  date,  to  the  effect  that  eight  of  the  nine* 
captains  then  on  duty  had  approved  of  my* appointment. 

On  the  22d,  I  reported  for  duty,  and  at  4  P.M.,  held  my 
first  religious  service  with  the  Regiment;  at  the  close  of  which 
I  gave  notice,  by  request  of  Brig.  Gen.  S.  C.  F.  Thorndike, 
who  had  command  of  the  camp,  as  a  "  Branch  of  the  Albany 
Depot  of  Volunteers/'  of  a  service  to  be  held  on  Fast-day,  the 
following  Thursday.  On  the  day  and  hour  appointed  the  ser 
vice  was  held,  and  was  largely  attended,  not  only  by  the  troops, 
but  also  by  large  numbers  of  citizens  of  Ogdensburgh. 

Public  religious  service  was  held  once  on  each  of  the  five 
following  Sundays,  and  with  as  great  regularity  thereafter  as 
circumstances  would  allow. f 

Some  of  the  men  held  prayer-meetings  every  evening  during 
our  stay  at  Camp  Wheeler;  at  first  in  the  loft  of  the  building 
occupied  as  a  dining-hall  and  officers'  drill-room,  but  subse 
quently  in  a  shed  adjoining  the  guard-house.  These  meetings 
I  attended  occasionally;  but,  feeling  that  my  presence  embar 
rassed  others  instead  of  helping  them,  I  kept  aloof,  and  gen 
erally  spent  my  evenings  with  the  officers,  who  were  instructed 
in  the  Manual  of  Arms  by  Col.  Brundage. 

Dr.  Chambers  and  myself  were  quartered  together  in  the 
building  occupied  as  a  hospital.  "We  had  many  merry  tirnes? 
and  were  generally  very  happy.  We  were  careful  to  attend, 
as  far  as  possible,  to  all  the  minutiae  of  military  life,  and  — 
as  Hospital-Steward  Cornish,  who  alone  was  in  our  company, 
can  testify  —  gave  particular  attention  to  roll-call ! 

Some  time  early  in  October,  large  numbers  of  the  citizens 

*  Capt.  Redington  was  the  ninth.     His  objection  was  based 
wholly  on  his  conscientious  opposition  to  my  theological  tenets, 
f  For  a  more  full  account  of  these  services,  see  Chapter  XVI. 


8  THE   ORGANIZATION. 

of  Canton  and  Russell  came  to  camp  and  held  a  pic-nic  with 
Company  "  D."  In  behalf  of  the  visitors,  I  presented  a  flag 
to  the  company,  which  was  received  by  Captain  Thomas  in  a 
very  appropriate  speech. 

At  about  the  same  time  Col.  Brundage  went  to  Albany, 
and,  after  an  audience  with  the  Examining  Committee,  re 
turned  to  camp,  assured  of  the  position  of  Major  when  the  or 
ganization  wae  completed.  Not  knowing  what  further  changes 
might  be  made,  and  having  fully  completed  all  my  arrange 
ments  to  go  with  the  regiment,  I  deemed  it  prudent  to  have 
as  many  evidences  of  my  appointment  as  possible  on  file  at 
Albany ;  and  therefore  sent  by  Judge  James,  who  was  going 
to  the  Governor  on  other  business,  the  certificate  of  appoint 
ment  wh'ich  I  had  received  from  Col.  Brundage. 

On  the  19th,  Capt.  Goodrich  having  gone  to  Albany  to 
appear  before  the  Board  of  Examiners,  a  strong  feeling  was 
manifest  in  camp  against  his  being  promoted  over  Col.  Brund 
age,  and  I  wrote  him  a  plain  statement  of  the  facts.  He  re 
turned,  however,  on  the  23d,  assured  of  the  position  of  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel,  and  took  command  at  once  of  the  troops.  Sub 
sequently  he  had  an  interview  with  the  line  officers,  and  it 
was  understood  that  they  were  satisfied  in  regard  to  the 
matter. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  24th,  Hon.  William  A.  Wheeler, 
for  whom  the  camp  had  been  named,  brought  up  and  pre 
sented  to  the  regiment  a  national  flag,  made  after  tlie  pattern 
prescribed  in  the  Army  Regulations.  The  regiment  was  pa 
raded  to  receive  it,  and  a  large  concourse  of  citizens  from  St. 
Lawrence  and  the  adjoining  counties  was  present  to  witness 
the  ceremony.  Mr.  Wheeler,  in  an  address  in  which  he  gave 
an  historical  sketch  of  the  past  triumphs  of  the  American  Flag, 
and  a  patriotic  description  of  its  significance,  value  and  pres 
ent  danger,  put  it  into  the  hands  of  Lieut.-Col.  Goodrich,  ex 
pressing  his  confident  belief  that  the  regiment  would  guard, 
protect  and  honor  it.  The  Lieutenant-Colonel,  in  receiving 


THE    ORGANIZATION.  9 

the  gift,  spoke  for  the  regiment  in  an  assurance  of  their  con 
sciousness  of  the  worth  of  the  flag,  the  greatness  of  the  prin 
ciples  it  represented,  and  the  fidelity  and  patriotic  love  with 
which  it  should  be  kept  and  guarded.* 

The  whole  affair  was  a  very  pleasant  one,  and  passed  off 
greatly  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  present. 

During  our  stay  at  Camp  Wheeler  all  were  kept  busy.  Re 
veille  was  beaten  just  before  sunrise,  immediately  followed  by 
roll-call.  Breakfast  was  had  at  7  o'clock ;  squad  drills,  under 
charge  of  the  non-commissioned  officers,  from  8  to  10  o'clock ; 
non-commissioned  officers'  drill,  by  the  adjutant,  from  11  to 
12 ;  dinner  at  1 ;  company  drill,  by  the  commissioned  officers, 
from  2  to  3?;  dress  parade  at  4;  supper  at  6.  Retreat  was 
beaten  at  sunset,  followed  by  roll-call;  tattoo  at  S-J,  followed 
by  the  final  roll-call,  after  which  none  were  allowed  to  be  out 
of  quarters ;  and  at  nine,  taps  were  sounded  as  the  signal  to 
put  out  lights  and  go  to  bed.  As  previously  stated,  the  com 
missioned  officers  were  instructed  in  the  evening  by  Col.  Brun- 
dage. 

The  quarters  at  Camp  "VVheeler  were  comfortably  arranged 
in  large  buildings,  formerly  used  by  the  Northern  Railroad 
Company  as  workshops  for  the  manufacture  and  repair  of  the 
rolling-stock  of  their  road.  There  were  six  or  eight  of  these 
buildings.  As  many  as  were  needed  were  used  for  quarters, 
and  the  balance  were  disposed  of  according  to  convenience. 
The  centre**building  was  a  cook-room  and  dining-hall.  Gen. 
Schuyler  F.  Judd  and  Mr.  J.  B.  Armstrong  supplied  the 
table.  Some  of  the  men,  especially  those  of  the  lower  class, 
who  probably  never  had  fared  half  so  well  before,  grumbled 
over  and  found  fault  with  their  food,  and  during  the  last  night 
at  camp,  perpetrated  outrages  and  folly  on  the  property  of  the 

*  At  Antietam  this  flag  was  badly  damaged  by  rebel  shot. 
Subsequent  exposures  further  tended  to  its  destruction  ;  and 
while  we  were  encamped  near  Fairfax  Station,  Va.,  in  January, 
1863,  it  accidentally  took  fire,  and  was  rendered  worthless. 


10  THE    ORGANIZATION. 

contractors.  They  were  not  long  away  from  the  place,  how 
ever,  before  they  saw,  by  contrast,  how  much  they  had  lost 
in  being  deprived  of  the  well-cooked  and  wholesome  food  fur 
nished  at  Camp  Wheeler,  and  how  blind  and  ungrateful  they 
had  been  in  their  complaints. 

On  Tuesday,  October  29th,  Col.  William  B.  Hayward  re 
ported  at  camp  as  our  commander.  Gen.  Thorndike  ordered 
the  regiment  paraded  for  his  reception,  and  introduced  him 
by  reading  a  commission,  as  follows : 

THE  PEOPLE  OF  THE  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK, 

BY   THE   GRACE    OF   GOD,    FREE    and    INDEPENDENT, 

To  WILLIAM  B.  HAYWARD,  Greeting: 

We,  reposing  especial  trust  and  confidence,  as  well  in"  your 
patriotism,  conduct  and  loyalty,  as  in  your  integrity  and  readi 
ness  to  d^  us  good  and  faithful  service,  have  appointed  and  con 
stituted,  and  by  these  presents  do  appoint  and  constitute,  you, 
the  said  William  B.  Hayward,  Colonel  of  the  Sixtieth  Regiment 
N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers,  with  rank  from  October  25th,  1861.  You 
are  therefore  to  observe  and  follow  such  orders  and  instructions 
as  you  shall,  from  time  to  time,  receive  from  our  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  the  Military  Forces  of  our  said  State,  or  any  other  your 
superior  officer,  according  to  the  rules  and  discipline  of  war,  and 
hold  the  said  office  in  the  manner  specified  in  and  by  the  Con 
stitution  and  Laws  of  our  said  State  and  of  the  United  States,  in 
pursuance  of  the  trust  reposed  in  you ;  and  for  so  doing,  this 
shall  be  your  commission. 

In  testimony  whereof,  we  have  caused  our  seal  for  military 
commissions  to  be  hereunto  affixed.  Witness,  Edwin  D.  Morgan. 
Governor  of  our  said  State,  Commander-in-Chicf  of  the  Military 
and  Naval  Forces  of  the  same,  at  our  City  of  Albany,  tKe  twenty- 
fifth  day  of  October,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-one. 


SEAL. 


Passed  the  Adjutant-General's  Office. 
THOMAS  HILLHOUSE, 


Adj  utant-General. 

E.  D.  MORGAN. 


THE    ORGANIZATION.  11 

The  Colonel  made  a  speech,  which*left  a  very  favorable 
impression  on  nearly  all  whom  he  addressed.  An  original 
manoeuvre,  however,  which  he  executed  with  his  sword,  at 
the  close  of  his  remarks,  was  very  ludicrous.  Subsequently, 
many  tried  to  imitate  it;  but  D.  M.  Robertson  alone  became  an 
expert,  especially  in  that  part  where  the  coat-tails  described 
the  line  of  beauty ! 

In  company  with  Major  Brundage,  I  had  an  interview  with 
the  Colonel  on  the  subject  of  the  Chaplaincy,  informing  him 
of  the  circumstances  under  which  I  came  there,  the  docu 
ments  at  Albany,  and  the  assurances  of  the  Governor  that 
they  were  sufficient,  and  that  I  should  receive  the  appoint 
ment.  He  replied  that  he  would  give  the  case  a  fair  and 
serious  consideration.  I  left  him  in  conversation  with  the 
Major,  who  soon  after  informed  me  that  the  Colonel  told  him 
that  he  had  a  friend  in  New  York  who  must  have  the  Chap 
laincy.  At  my  suggestion,  the  Major  canvassed  the  subject 
among  the  officers,  and  reported  that  a  majority  would  vote 
for  me. 

The  next  day  the  Colonel  called  the  company  commanders 
together,  and,  as  subsequently  reported  to  me  by  several  who 
were  present,  addressed  them,  in  substance,  as  follows : 

I  have  called  you  to  consider  the  very  important  matter  of 
electing  a  Chaplain.  I  have  a  very  dear  friend  in  New  York, 
whom  I  desire  to  see  in  that  place.  He  is  a  man  of  great  expe 
rience  and  ability,  having  been  for  several  years  a  Foreign  Mis 
sionary.  I  believe  that  he  will  be  especially  interested  in  the 
souls  of  these  men.  Whatever  your  previous  preferences  may 
have  been,  and  whatever  your  expressions  of  preference,  I  desire 
you  to  consider  it  as  the  greatest  personal  favor  you  can  grant 
me,  to  vote  for  the  Rev.  Dr.  Scudder,  of  New  York.  I  am  will 
ing  to  .contribute,  and  I  hope  you  all  are,  towards  making  Mr. 
Eddy  whole  in  any  outlay  r/e  may  have  made  in  expectation  of 
the  place :  but  I  have  thought  this  matter  all  over,  and  if  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars  were  placed  here  on  one  hand,  and  the 
|lev.  Dr.  Scudder  on  the  other,  and  I  was  told  that  it  was  the 


12  THE   ORGANIZATION. 

last  choice  I  could  mike  in  life,  I  should  choose  Dr.  Scudder ! 
If  I  have  to  fall  on  the  field,  as  perhaps  I  may,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Scudder  is  the  man  above  all  others  whom  I  desire  should  min 
ister  to  me  in  the  last  hour. 

Lieut.-Col.  Goodrich  and  Major  Brundage  withdrew  without 
voting.  The  company  commanders  voted  as  follows :  Day, 
Redington,  Hyde,  Elliott,  Ransom,  Jones,  and  Godard  for 
Rev.  Dr.  Scudder. 

Clark,*  Thomas  and  Smith  for  R.  Eddy. 

Shortly  after  this  vote  the  regiment  was  paraded,  and  Lieu 
tenant  Perkins  mustered  all  present  into  the  service  of  the 
United  States  for  three  .years,  or  during  the  war.  Later  in 
the  day,  Company  "A"  held  an  election,  and  chose  2d  Lieut. 
William  Montgomery,  Captain. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day,  Thursday,  October  31st, 
the  regiment  was  again  paraded,  when  the  Hon.  John  Fine 
presented  a  beautiful  State  banner  in  behalf  of  the  ladies  of 
Ogdensburgh.  Judge  Fine  spoke  as  follows  : 

OFFICERS  AND  SOLDIERS, — I  am  commissioned  by  the  ladies  of 
Ogdensburgh  to  present  to  you  this  banner,  which  is  emblematic 
of  the  pride  and  greatness  of  the  State  of  New  York.  "We  have 
confidence  in  your  courage  and  patriotism,  and  that  you  will, 
with  God's  blessing,  bear  this  banner  aloft  triumphant  to  vic 
tory.  Some  of  you  are  the  descendants  of  men  who  fought  and 
died  on  the  Revolutionary  field.  A  descent  from  such  ancestors 
is  a  strong  guarantee  that  you  will  not  disgrace  this  banner  by 
cowardice.  Some  of  you  are  soldiers  of  the  cross,  and  have  laid 
your  vows  upon  the  altar  to  be  faithful  to  God  and  yo5ir  country. 
Remember  the  warning  in  your  book  of  discipline :  ''It  is  bet 
ter  not  to  vow  than  to  vow  and  not  perform."  Most  of  you.  are 
natives  of  St,  Lawrence  county,  and  have  been  taught  from  your 
childhood  to  be  proud  of  a  county  whose  citizens  are  equal  in 
intelligence,  virtue  and  patriotism  to  any  other  county  in  the 


*  First  Lieutenant  B.  R.  Clark,  in  command  of  Company  "A," 
by  virtue  of  promotion  of  Capt.  Goodrich. 


THE  ORGANIZATION.  13 

Empire  State.  See  to  it  that  you-do  not,  by  misconduct,  tarnish 
the  fame  of  a  county  which  contains  the  ashes  of  a  Silas  "Wright. 
The  finest  representative  of  man,  of  fallen  but  redeemed  man, 
is  the  Christian  missionary,  who,  after  toiling  to  instruct  and 
bless  his  fellow-man,  dies  the  death  of  a  martyr  in  attestation  of 
the  truth  he  has  taught.  Next  to  him  is  the  patriot  soldier, 
who  leaves  his  peaceful  home  for  a  distant  field  of  battle  to  fight 
and  die  for  his  country.  You  have  a  glorious  mission,  and  may  " 
well  be  envied  by  many  of  us ;  who,  from  age  and  sex,  are  un 
able  to  accompany  you ;  but  we  shall  follow  you  with  our  sym 
pathies  and  prayers.  The  acceptance  by  you  of  this  banner  is 
an  engagement  on  your  part  to  make^t  your  pillar  of  cloud  by 
day,  and  your  pillar  of  fire  by  night,  to  lead  you  on  your  march. 
Wherever  it  shall  go  you  will  go ;  wherever  it  shall  stand  you 
will  stand ;  and  on^the  battle-field  it  shall  recall  to  your  mem 
ory  the  charge  which  I  now  give  you,  in  the  name  of  the  ladies 
of  Ogdensburgh,  to  conquer  or  die.  May  God  bless  you,  and 
crown  your  arms  with  success,  in  restoring  peace  and  union  to 
our  beloved  country ! 

The  flag  was  received  by  Col.  Hayward,  who  made  the  fol 
lowing  reply : 

As  the  representative,  and  in  the  name  of  the  officers,  non 
commissioned  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  Sixtieth  Regiment  of 
New  York  State  Volunteers,  I  accept  with  profound  emotion  this 
beautiful  and  costly  testimonial  from  the  ladies  of  Ogdensburgh 
to  the  beloved  relatives  and  friends  who  are  leaving  their  homes 
and  firesides,  and  all  that  life  holds  dearest  of  tenderest  relations, 
to  go  forth  to  the  defence  of  the  Union  of  these  States,  so  blessed 
heretofore  by  God,  but  which  now  is  sought  to  be  disintegrated 
by  wicked,  aspiring,  ambitious  men.  This  flag  shall  be  our  rally 
ing  point ;  and  as  we  look  up  to  its  folds  as  they  float  upon  the 
breezes  which  are  sent  from  heaven,  and  as  we  catch  the  words 
"Jehovah  Nissi"  (God  is  our  banner),  we  shall,  with  blessings 
upon  the  ladies  of  Ogdensburgh  for  so  touching  a  memento  of 
their  kindness,  their  goodness,  and  their  patriotism,  and  with  a 
firm,  unwavering  trust  in  Almighty  God  to  crown  our  efforts  with 
successful  issue,  enter  into  the  conflict  strengthened  by  the  bat 
tle-cry  of  God  and  our  country  ! 
2 


14  THE    ORGANIZATION. 

After  the  flag  presentation,  B.  H.  Vary,  Esq.,  on  behalf  of 
the  ladies  of  Rensselaer  Falls  and  Cooper's  Falls,  presented 
the  soldiers  with  a  package  of  woollen  stockings,  in  the  follow 
ing  remarks : 

COLONEL  HAYWARD, — I  have  received  from  the  ladies  of  Canton 
Falls  and  vicinity,  and  from  Cooper's  Falls  and  vicinity,  this 
package  of  stockings,  with  the  request  that  I  would  present  them 
to  this  regiment.  They  are  not  as  brilliant  as  the  beautiful  ban 
ner  presented  by  their  sisters  from  Ogdensburgh  ;  but  they  evince 
the  same  warm  and  heartfelt  patriotism,  the  same  desire  to  con 
tribute  to  the  efficiency,  ecfcifort  and  happiness  of  the  regiment. 
They  are  furnished,  in  compliance  with  the  call  of  our  country, 
upon  the  patriotism  of  her  daughters,  to  supply,  as  rapidly  as 
possible,  articles  of  comfort  for  their  husban^re,  fathers,  brothers 
and  sons,  now  in,  and  those  about  entering  the  field,  for  the  no 
ble  purpose  of  supporting  and  sustaining  the  Government.  To 
show  that  they  are  just  the  articles  wanted — made  just  in  the 
style  they  should  be,  I  beg  to  read  a  few  lines  from  the  letter  of 
Doctor  Bellows,  President  of  the"  Sanitary  Committee:  "Of  flan 
nel  shirts  there  are  an  abundance;  but  of  socks,  without  the 
troublesome  seam  in  the  middle,  there  are  not  enough,  and  the 
women  are  urged  to  knit  all  they  can  by  hand."  Sir,  there  are 
'  several  peculiarities  about  these  stockings.  They  are  made  for 
brave  and  good  men.  No  coward,  traitor,  or  enemy  of  our  coun 
try,  is  ever  to  possess  a  single  one  of  them.  The  last  thing  knit 
upon  them  was  the  toe,  to  show  they  were  intended  to  advance, 
and  not  for  cowardly  retreat.  There  is  not  a  bit  of  cotton  in 
them ;  cotton  is  a  traitor !  The  sheep  that  provided  the  wool 
from  which  this  yarn  was  spun,  and  from  which  these  stockings 
were  knit,  were  reared  upon  our.  own  meadows  and  pastures, 
know  the  voice  of  their  shepherd,  and  are  ever  unassuming,  true, 
honest  and  faithful.  Soldiers,  when  you  receive  these  stockings, 
remember  that  warm  hearts  at  home  are  anxiously  throbbing  for 
your  welfare ;  that  your  mothers,  wives  and  sisters  look  to  your 
courage  and  faithfulness  for  the  perpetuity  of  every  useful  bless 
ing  which  a  good  government  can  give ;  that  while  you  are  man 
fully  fighting  the  battles  of  our  country,  other  bilsy  fingers  will 
be  plying  the  needle  for  your  comfort,  and  tears  of  affection 


THJ*  ORGANIZATION.  15 

will  fill  the  eye  and  swell  the  heart  over  the  memory  of  the 
loved,  the  brave  but  absent  ones.  Sir,  I  now  present  these  stock 
ings  to  you,  to  be  by  you  distributed  to  your  regiment  as  occa 
sion  and  circumstances  require.  'And  when  you  return  with  your 
brow  bedecked  with  the  laurels  of  the  fiejd,  should  you  then  seek 
for  civic  honors,  and  wish  for  the  suffrages  of  the  citizens  of  St. 
Lawrence  county,  you  must  be  sure  you  can  account  well  for 
the  stockings  ! 

Col.  Hay  ward  accepted,  on  behalf  of  the  soldiers,  the  con 
siderate  gifts,  in  some  very  appropriate  remarks.  After  the 
presentation  had  been  made,  Major  Brundage  escorted  Adju 
tant  Gale  to  the  centre  of  the  square,  and  he  was  presented 
with  a  sword  and  revolver  from  his  friends  and  associates  in 
New  York  city.  Col.  Hayward  made  the  presentation.  The 
articles  were  accompanied  by  the  following  letter : 

.  20  WARREN  STREET,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  20;  1861. 
To  ROLLIX  C.  GALE,  Adjutant  Sixtieth  Regiment  N.  Y.  S.  V. : 

DEAR  SIR, — The  undersigned,  your  friends,  and  late  your  com 
panions  at  20  Warren  street,  New  York,  entertaining  a  very  high 
regard  for  your  excellent  qualities  as  a  citizen  and  a  soldier,  beg 
leave  to  present  to  you  the  accompanying  sword  as  a  token  of 
their  kindly  remembrance  of  you,  and  their  appreciation  of  you* 
character.  That  it  will  never  be  dishonored  in  your  hands  we 
have  the  strongest  guarantee  in  our  knowledge  of  your  past  life. 
The  voluntary  soldier  always  assumes  responsibilities  of  the 
gravest  character.  Whether  he  follows  or  leads,  his  obligations 
to. his  country  and  to  mankind  are  not  materially  changed — for 
war,  in  its  best  aspect,  is  the  greatest  calamity  that  can  befall  a 
nation ;  and  that  its  rigor  may  be  softened,  depends  wholly  upon 
the  courage,  constancy  and  humanity  of  the  soldier.  But  this 
is  a  war  of  necessity — a  war  of  defence.  We  go  into  the  conflict, 
not  for  plunder  or  for  conquest,  but  for  the  integrity  of  the  Gov 
ernment,  the  very  life  of  the  nation.  In  the  sacred  name  of 
Liberty,  we  draw  the  sword  and  unfurl  our  banners.  It  is  a  war 
for  principle,  justice,  truth  and  humanity.  How  greatly,  then, 
are  the  obligations  of  the  soldier  enlarged  !  The  war  to  which 
you  are  going  is  no  holiday  festival,  no  mere  parade  of  men  in 


16  THE   ORGANIZATION. 

uniform.  You  are  to  encounter  the  actual  and  mortal  risks  of 
battle.  Lamartine  has  said :  "  Every  revolution  must  have  its 
birth ;  every  birth  its  throes ;  every  throe  its  pangs-;  and  every 
pang  its  groan."  The  hazards  of  war  and  battle  are  before  you, 
and  not  all  will  part  where  many  meet ;  it  is  a  sacrifice  by  far 
the  greatest  that  men  can  make.  In  hours  of  despondency  your 
faith  will  be  enlarged,  and  your  patriotism  elevated  by  the  mem 
ories  of  our  illustrious  dead,  and  by  the  glorious  history  of  our 
country.  There  are  names,  and  incidents,  and  memories  in  our 
bright  land  which  can  never  die  while  the  'nation  lives.  Wash 
ington  and  Greene,  Bunker  Hill  and  Lexington,  are  names  which 
are  dear  to  America  and  Americans.  They  speak  to  us,  in  elo 
quent  words,  from  every  patriot's  grave ;  they  speak  to  us  of  sacri 
fices,  of  trials,  of  heroism,  of  fortitude,  of  devotion,  and  of  triumph. 
Glorious  watchwords  these  to  the  Northern  soldiers !  Go  forth,then , 
with  the  weapons  of  your  warfare.  Go  with  no  doubt  of  the 
justice  of  your  cause  and  of  your  ultimate  success.  Go,  assured 
that  you  are  remembered  by  your  friends  and  countrymen  at 
home ;  and  may  the  God  of  battles  send  you  back  to  us  crowned 
with  the  laurels  of  victory ! 

With  sentiments  of  the  greatest  esteem,  we  remain  sincerely 
your  friends, 

Cyrus  Clark,  P.  Bartlett,  Jr., 

H.  Parller,     •  0.  W.  Wilmot, 

L.  M.  Bates,  W.  C.  Morse, 

William  H.  Sanford,       W.  B.  Shackleton, 
T.  E.  Koberts,  P.  B.  Berry, 

J.  S.  Hills,  C.  L.  Knowles, 

Clark  Skinner,  -C.  B.  Fox, 

Henry  P.  Cohen,  Martin  Kean, 

F.  H.  Corliss,  William  Bradley, 

Frank  R.  Rogers,  George  N.  Bliss, 

B.  F.  Bigelow,  J.  H.  Reed. 

>  Adjutant  Gale  received  the  weapons  in  the  following  re 
marks: 

KIND  FRIENDS  AND  FORMER  ASSOCIATES  or  NEW  YORK, — I  ac 
cept,  with  feelings  of  pride  and  pleasure,  your  beautiful  and  most 
opportune  gift  of  sword  and  pistol ;  and  I  return  to  you  my  most 


THE   ORGANIZATION.  17 

grateful  acknowledgments  for  the  noble,  patriotic  and  friendly 
sentiments  with  which  your  tokens  are  accompanied.  Be  assured, 
gentlemen,  that  I  go  forth  to  the  campaign  deeply  impressed  with 
a  sense  of  the  responsibilities  of  the  volunteer  soldier,  and  anxi 
ous  to  dischai'ge,  in  a  creditable  manner,  the  duties  which  I  owe 
as  a  citizen  to  our  common  country.  All  considerations  of  per 
sonal  care  or  private  interest  should  be  held  secondary,  in  the 
crisis  of  our  national'  history,  to  the  public  safety.  The  nation 
has  the  right,  now  that  her  very  life  is  at  stake,  to  the  property, 
the  labor,  and  the  lives  of  her  citizens ;  and  I  feel  it,  indeed,  a 
proud  and  happy  privilege  to  expose  my  life  in  defence  of  the 
glorious  rights  and  free  institutions  won  for  us  by  the  blood  and 
sacrifice  of  our  Revolutionary  fathers.  With  your  most  accept 
able  gifts  I  march  in  a  few  days  with  my  gallant  volunteer 
comrades  ;  and'  be  assured,  gentlemen,  I  never  shall  draw  these 
weapons  except  in  defence  of  our  common  country ;  and  when 
ever  it  becomes  my  duty  to  unsheath  this  sword  in  defence  of  that 
noble  banner  that  floats  proudly  over  our  field,  it  will  be  done 
with  a  willing  heart  and  steady  hand,  and  never  will  be  returned 
to  its  sheath  with  dishonor.  Again  thanking  you  for  these  liberal 
testimonials  of  your  esteem,  I  bid  you  a  hearty  farewell. 

Rev.  Mr..  Miller  closed  the  proceedings  with  some  patriotic 
remarks,  and  a  prayer  and  benediction. 

After  these  ceremonies,  Adjutant  Gale  read  an  order  to  the 
regiment  to  be  in  readiness  to  leave  at  eight  o'clock  Friday 
morning  for  the  seat  of  war. 

The  next  morning,  which  was  Friday,  Col.  Hayward  ap 
proved  the  previous  appointment  of  Adjutant  Gale,  appointed 
Hon.  Edwin  A.  Merritt,  of  Pierpont,  Quartermaster,  and  gave 
the  sutlership  to  William  P.  Tilley,  of  Malone. 

The  reader  will  have  noticed  from  the  foregoing,  that  this 
regiment  came  into  camp  under  a  call  for  the  33d  Regiment 
of  Militia,  and  an  assurance  that  the  33d  had  been  accepted 
by  the  Governor ;  but  that  a  change  in  the  name  and  number 
was  effected  before  the  command  was  sworn  in.  How  this 
was  brought  about,  or  for  what  reasons,  I  have  no  means  of 


18  TH$   ORANIZATION. 

knowing.  Suspicions  that  there  would  be  a  change  were  first 
aroused  when  Col.  Brundage  returned  from  Albany,  but  the 
first  positive  information  was  given  to  the  men  when  they 
listened  to  the  reading  of  Col.  Hayward's  commission.  Several 
reasons  for  the  change  were  assigned  by  the  soldiers,  and  by 
citizens,  but  I  am  not  aware  that  any  one  who  knew  what  the 
facts  were,  ever  threw  any  light  on  the  subject. 

The  following  is  the  general  order  under  which  volunteer 
regiments  in  the  state  of  New  York  were  organized  in  1861 : 

GENERAL  HEADQUARTERS,  STATE  or  NEW  YORK, 
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 

ALBANY,  July  30th,  1861. 
GENERAL  ORDERS,  No.  78. 

The  President  of  the  United  States  having  made  a  requisition 
on  the  State  of  New  York  for  25,000-  additional  volunteers  to 
serve  for  three  years  or  during  the  war,  the  following  regulations 
for  their  organization  are  hereby  published : 

1.  There  will  be  25  regiments,  numbered  from  43  to  67,  both 
inclusive,  one  of  which  will  be  organized  as  Artillery,  with  six 
batteries  of  four  guns  each.     Detailed  instructions  for  the  Artil 
lery  will  be  published  hereafter. 

2.  Each  Infantry  regiment  will  consist  of  ten  companies,  and 
each  company  will  be  organized  as  follows : 

One  Captain,  one  1st  Lieutenant,  one  2d  Lieutenant,  one  1st 
Sergeant,  four  Sergeants,  eight  Corporals,  two  Musicians,  one 
Wagoner,  and  not  less  than  sixty-four  or  more  than  eighty-two 
privates ;  maximum  aggregate,  one  hundred  and  one. 

3.  Each  regiment  will  be  organized  as  follows : 


THE   ORGANIZATION.  19 

MINIMUM. 

830  Company  officers  and  enlisted  men. 
1  Colonel. 

1  Lieutenant-Colonel. 
1  Major. 

1  Adjutant  (a  Lieutenant). 
1  Regimental  Quartermaster  (a  Lieutenant). 
1  Surgeon. 

1  Assistant  Surgeon.  '  ".  •  ' 

1  Chaplain. 
1  Sergeant-Major. 

1  Regimental  Quartermaster-Sergeant. 
1  Regimental  Commissary-Sergeant. 

1  Hospital  Steward. 

2  Principal  Musicians. 
24  Musicians  for  Band. 


868  Aggregate. 


MAXIMUM. 


1010  Company  officers  and  enlisted  men. 
1  Colonel. 

1  Lieutenant-Colonel. 
1  Major. 

1  Adjutant  (a  Lieutenant). 
1  Regimental  Quartermaster  (a  Lieutenant. 
1  Surgeon. 
1  Assistant  Surgeon. 
1  Chaplain. 
1  Sergeant-Major. 

1  Regimental  Quartermaster-Sergeant. 
1  Regimental  Commissary-Sergeant. 

1  Hospital  Steward. 

2  Principal  Musicians. 
24  Musicians  for  Band. 

1048  Aggregate. 


20  THE   ORGANIZATION. 

• 

4.  There  will  be  three  Depots  at  which  the  volunteers  will 
assemble : 

One  in  New- York  city,  to  be  commanded  by  Brigadier-Gen 
eral  YATES  ; 

One  at  Albany,  to  be  commanded  by  Brigadier-General  RATH- 
EON  E  ;  and 

One  at  Elmira,  to  be  commanded  by  Brigadier-General  VAN 
YALKENBURGH. 

5.  When  32  or  more  persons  shall  present  their  application  to 
the  Commandant  of  a  Depot  for  a  company  organization,  he  will 
appoint  an  Inspector  to  make  an  inspection,  and  after  the  above 
number  of  able-bodied   men,  between  the   ages  of  18  and    45 
(minors  having  exhibited  the  written  consent  of  their    parents 
or  guardians),  have  been  inspected  by  him,  the  Inspector    will 
certify  the  result  thereof  to  such  commandant,  by  whose  order 
transportation  to  his  Depot  will  be  provided.     On  their  arrival 
there,  they  will  be  examined  by  the  Medical  Examiner  of  the 
Depot,  and  quarters  and  subsistence  will  be  furnished. 

6.  The  above  rule  will  apply  to  the  transportation,  &c.,  of  the 
recruits,  who  may  be  enlisted  from  time  to  time,  to  complete  the 
organization  of  a  company. 

7.  When  32  or  more  men  shall  have  been  thus  accepted  by 
the  Medical  Examiner,  the  Commandant  of  the  Depot  will  im 
mediately  direct  them  to  nominate,  by  ballot,  a  Captain    and 
Lieutenant  of  the  company  ;  the  remaining  officers  to  be  nomi 
nated  on  the  completion  of  the  company  organization. 

8.  After  an  examination  as  hereinafter  provided  (paragraph 
1C)  of  the  persons  so  nominated  as  officers,  the  Commandant  of 
the  Depot  will  transmit  the  Inspection  Roll,  with  certificates  of 
inspection,  nomination  and  examination,  to  the  Adjutant-General 
of  the  State.     If  the  company  thus  organized  shall  be  accepted 
by  the  Commander-in-Chief,  the  pay  of  the  officers  and  men  will 
commence  from  the  date  of  such  acceptance. 

9.  The  company  Non-commissionec}  officers,  until  the  company 
shall  be  embodied  in  a  regiment,  will  be  appointed  by  the  Cap 
tain  ;  afterwards  by  the  Regimental  Commander,  on  the  recom 
mendation  of*  the  Captain. 

10.  The  Field  officers  for  these  regiments  will  be  appointed  by 


THE   ORGANIZATION.  21 

the  Commander-in-Chief,  after  they  shall  have  passed  a  satisfac 
tory  examination,  before  a  Board  of  officers  to  be  hereafter  named^ 
and  wilLbe  assigned  to  the  various  Depots,  to  superintend  the 
organization  of  their  regiments  under  the  orders  of  the  Com 
mandants  of  Depots. 

11.  If  delay  should  occur  in  the  filling  up  of  any  company  or 
regiment  to  the  minimum  standard  to  entitle  it  to  be  mustered 
into  the  United  States  service,  the  Commander-in-Chief  will  dis 
band  or  consolidate  the  incomplete  organization,  or  transfer  com 
panies  or  accept  new  organizations,  as  circumstances  may  require. 
When  companies  are  consolidated  the  officers  will  be  assigned 
according  to  rank,  and  when  rank  is  of  the  same  date  it  will  be 
fixed  by  lot.     Officers  rendered  supernumerary  by  disbanding  or 
consolidating  incomplete  companies  or   regiments,  will  be  dis 
charged  from  the  service,  and  their  pay  &c.,  will  cease  from  the 
date  of  such  discharge. 

12.  After  the  acceptance  of  a  regiment,  the  Colonel  will  ap 
point  from  the  company  subalterns  an  Adjutant  and  a  Regimental 
Quartermaster,  who    may  be   reassigned   to  companies   at   his 
pleasure.  * 

13.  The  Surgeon  and  Assistant-Surgeon  will  be  appointed  by 
the  Commander-in-Chief,  after  they  shall  have  passed  an  exami 
nation  by  a  commission  prescribed  by  the  Medical  Department. 

14.  The  Non-commissioned  Staff  will  be  selected  by  the  Colonel 
from  the  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  of  the  regiment ; 
and  vacancies  so  created  will  be  filled  by  appointment  as  is  pre 
scribed  above. 

15.  The  Regimental  Chaplain  will  be  appointed  by  the  Regi 
mental  Commander,  on  the  vote  of  the  field  officers  and  company 
commanders  on  duty  with  the  regiment  at  the  time  the  appoint 
ment  is  made.     The  Chaplain  must  be  a  regularly  ordained  min 
ister  of  some  Christian  denomination,  and  will  receive  the  pay 
and  allowances  of  a  Captain  of  Cavalry. 

16.  The  Commander-in-Chief  will  appoint  for  each  Depot  a 
Board  of  Examiners,  to  examine  into  the  qualifications  of  per 
sons  nominated  for  company  officers. 

17.  Field  officers  will  be  examined  in  the  School-of  the  Com 
pany  and  Battalion  ;  Company  officers  in  the  School  of  the  Sol 
dier  and  Company ;  Artillery  officers,  in  addition  to  the  above, 


22  THE    ORGANIZATION. 

will  be  examined  in  Artillery  tactics  and  the  other  branches  of 
that  arm  of  the  service.  The  Examiners  will  also  inquire  into 
the  moral  character  and  habits  of  the  persons  examined,  and  re 
port  for  the  information  of  the  Commander-in-Chief.  When  a 
person  designated  as  an  officer  shall  be  found  not  qualified,  an 
other  nomination  will  be  made  instead.  When  no  nomination 
shall  be  made  to  the  Commander-in-chief,  he  will  fill  the  vacancy. 

18.  When  regiments  are  duly  organized  according  to  the  above 
Regulations,  they  will  be  presented  for  muster  into  the  service 
of  the  United  States.     Care  will  be  taken  to  send  one  Muster 
Roll  to  the  Adjutant-General  of  the  State. 

19.  The  following  extracts  from  General  Order  No.  15,  from 
the  War  Department,  will  be  deemed  a  part  of  'this  order. 

"The  officers,  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  organized 
as  above  set  forth,  will,  in  all  respects,  be  placed  on  the  footing, 
as  to  pay  and  allowances,  of  similiar  corps  of  the  regular  army  : 
Provided,  that  their  allowances  for  clothing  shall  be  $2.50  per 
month  for  Infantry. 

"  Every  volunteer  Non-commissioned  officer,  private,  musi 
cian  and  artificer,  who  enters  the  service  of  the  United  States 
under  this  plan,  shall  be  paid  at  the  rate  of  50«cents,  and  if  a 
Cavalry  volunteer  25  cents  additional,  in  lieu  of  forage,  for  every 
20  miles  of  travel  from  his  home  to  the  place  of  muster,  the  dis 
tance  to  be  measured  by  the  shortest  usually  travelled  route ; 
and  when  honorably  discharged,  an  allowance,  at  the  same  rate, 
from  the  place  of  his  discharge  to  his  home,  and  in  addition 
thereto  the  sum  of  one  hundred  dollars. 

"  Any  volunteer  who  may  be  received  into  the  service  of 
the  United  States  under  this  plan,  and  who  may  be  wounded  or 
otherwise  disabled  in  the  service,  shall  be  entitled  to  the  benefits 
which  have  been  or  may  be  conferred  on  persons  disabled  in  the 
regular  service,  and  the  legal  heirs  of  such  as  die  or  may  be 
killed  in  service,  in  addition  to  all  arrears  of  pay  and  allow 
ances,  shall  receive  the  sum  of  one  hundred  dollars. 

"  The  Bands  of  the  regiments  of  Infantry  will  be  paid  as 
follows :  one-fourth  of  each  will  receive  the  pay  and  allowances 
of  sergeants  of  Engineer  soldiers  ;  one-fourth  those  of  corpo 
rals  of  Engineer  soldiers,  and  the  remaining  half  those  of  pri 
vates  of  Engineer  soldiers  of  the  1st  Class. 


THE   ORGANIZATION.  23 

"  The  Wagoners  and  Saddlers  will  receive  the  pay  and  al 
lowances  of  Corporals  of  Cavalry. 

"  The  Regimental  Commissary  Sergeant  will  receive  the  pay 
and  allowances  of  a  Regimental  Sergeant-Major.  The  Company 
Quarter-Master  Sergeant  the  pay  and  allowances  of  a  Sergeant 
of  Cavalry." 

By  order  of  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

DUNCAN  CAMPBELL, 

Assistant  Adjutant-  General. 

• 

From  the  "  Regimental  Descriptive  Book,"  made  up  about 
February  1st,  1862,  I  have  drawn  the  following  names  of  the 
non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  belonging  to  the  Regi 
ment.  All,  except  three  or  four  of  these,  were  with  us  at 
Camp  Wheeler. 

COMPANY  "A." 

Aldous,  S.  Crowley,  J.  F. 

Allen,  T.  Crowley,  M.  H. 

Abel,  C.  C.  Clark,  O.  B. 

Brooks,  W.  M.  Chaney,  R.  B. 

Bissell,  L.  Carson,  A. 

Bruseau,  P.  Coon,  S.  H. 

.  Buck,  L.  Chaney,  J.  B. 

Bonney,  W.  B.  Cook,  G.  L. 

Balcom,  M.  K.  Carpenter,  W.  S. 

Bissell,  C.  Y.  Chamberlain,  C.  C.  F. 

Bissell,  E.  Cleland  T. 

Blount,  S.  P.  Crowley,  P. 

Byrom,  H.  R.  Champlain,  F.  J. . 

Barber,  C.  B.  Crane,  E.  L. 

Church,  R.  A.  Clark,  E. 

Clark,  L.  Crowley,  J. 

Covey,  H.  Duprey,  J. 

Cagle,  N.  F.  Duprey,  L. 


24 


THE   ORGANIZATION. 


Dickinson,  N.  M. 
Daily,  J.  T. 
Davenport,  A. 
Enslow,  S.  H. 
Ellis,  J. 
Elmer,  R.  S. 
Fitch,  J.  C. 
Fitch,  W.  H. 
Fisk,  A. 
Finley,  E.  S. 
Ford,  E.  W. 
Gray,  A.  P. 
Gebo,  P.,  Jr. 
Gates,  L.  L. 
Harlow,  H. 
Harper,  J. 
Hart,  D.  E. 
Havens,  R.  P. 
Haskell,  S.  C. 
Kellog,  G.  H. 
Kelley,  J. 
Lasier,  J.,  Jr. 
Lockwood,  D.  R. 
Lasell,  S.  W. 
Lequea,  L.  H. 
McDonald,  D.  A. 
McKee,  E.  G 
McCormick,  J. 
McMonegal,  J. 
McCuen,  L. 
North,  E.  D. 
Olin,  W.  N. 


Preston,  J.  0. 
-Perry,  De  W.  C. 
Pelton,  H.  E. 
Parker,  D. 
Pennington,  H. 
Robinson,  J.  A. 
Robinson,  A.  C. 
Robinson,  J. 
Robertson,  D.  M. 
Royal,  W.  H. 
Rose,  E. 
Shepard,  0. 
Sturtevant,  H. 
Smith,  W. 
Stevenson,  E. 
Smith,  S.  W. 
Sevey,  J.     * 
Stevenson,  P 
Smith,  H.  T. 
Severance,  C.  H. 
Stone,  H. 
Shannahan,  T. 
Tilley,  W.  N. 
Tanner,  H.  F. 
Taplin,  W.  0. 
Tupper,  L. 
Thompson,  W. 
Willson,  L.  S. 
Whitford,  J.  B. 
White,  M. 
Wait,  P.  H. 
Worden,  J.  S, 


THE  ORGANIZATION. 


25 


COMPANY  " 

B." 

Alywood,  J. 

Mason,  D.  G. 

Brasie,  A. 

Moore,  H. 

Bolton,  E.  E. 

Mead,  M. 

Brasie,  G. 

McGregor,  J. 

Ballow,  M.  S. 

Newman,  G.  W. 

Bishop,  Or. 

Peck,  L. 

Corbett,  D. 

Patridge,  E.  H. 

Congar,  N.  W. 

Quinlin,  J. 

Cunningham,  J.  H. 

Eoberts,  J.  M. 

Gumming,  C.  S. 

Rounds,  D.  E. 

Clements,  D. 

Raven,  J.  C. 

Cummings,  J.  A. 

Raven,  J. 

Charter,  N. 

Russell,  M. 

Day,  S.  W. 

Ross,  S. 

Daily,  S. 

Sherwin,  J. 

Dana,  D.  Z. 

Sterling,  W.  E. 

Delong,  C. 

Sayer,  C. 

Delong,  M.  R. 

Shappee,  F. 

Dorgan,  J. 

Sisson,  C.  H. 

Duncan,  J. 

Soper,  T.  H. 

Downing,  T.  J. 

Smithers,  G. 

Fishback,  E.  F. 

Sterling,  W. 

Fishback,  S. 

Scanlon,  J. 

Finley,  A. 

Turnbull,  C. 

Fardan,  J. 

Valley,  P. 

Graves,  D. 

Ward,  W. 

Hicks,  A.  E. 

Wells,  G.  ,Vs^ 

Houghton,  G.  W. 

Washburn,  S. 

Hyde,  A. 

Wilson,  R.,  Jr. 

Houghton,  C.  H. 

Works,  L. 

Hyde,  M. 

Wright,  J. 

House,  N. 

Ward,  A. 

Johnson,  W. 

Ward,  J. 

King,  J. 

Works,  W. 

Knights,  G.  H,                  3 

26 


THE   ORGANIZATION. 


COMPANY  "C." 


Austin,  B. 
Buttles,  H.  W. 
Backus,  S. 
Burzee,  A. 
Burnham,  A.  H. 
Barney,  J. 
Brien,  D. 
Burns,  J.  W. 
Bush,  N. 
Barber,  L. 
Brown,  S.  S. 
Burdick,  S.  F. 
Brewster,  C. 
Carlisle,  B. 
Crawford,  J. 
Corben,  S. 
Collins,  M.  D. 
Collins,  W.  E. 
Clink,  a. 
Churchill,  W. 
Clark,  C. 
Dunn,  H.  W. 
Dygert,  K. 
Densmore,  J.  M. 
Eastman,  G.  M. 


Enslow,  G.  B. 
Fitch,  F.  M. 
Fox,  G.  W. 
Gurley,  W.  S. 
Glazier,  J. 
Goodwin,  G.  B. 
Gates,  N. 


Hill,  G.  W. 
Holliday,  D. 
Hyde,  N. 
Harder,  C.  H. 
Haskins,  G. 
Hayne,  P. 
Knox,  L.  J. 
Lamphear,  L.  J. 
Lasier,  J«. 
Lewis,  F.  C. 
Lewis,  J. 
Lasselle,  J.  A. 
Lyon,  D.  H. 
Mclntyre,  W.  A. 
Macier,  J. 
McDaid,  L. 
Morrison,  D. 
McWilliams,  H. 
Mitchell,  H. 
Marsh,  G.  W. 
Nice,  C. 
Nettleton,  E. 
Norton,  J. 
O'Neil,  C. 
Phillips,  T. 
Powers,  H.  W. 
Pickert,  J. 
Petrie,  G. 
Petrie,  M. 
Petrie,  J. 
Hose,  L,  A. 
Robinson,  J.  F. 
Bock,  W. 


THE   ORGANIZATION. 


27 


Reed,  W.  J. 
Ryan,  G.  F. 
Soper,  L.  M. 
Sibbitts,  J. 
Sherman,  G.  H. 
Severance,  G. 
Schuyler,  0. 
Starr,  J.  M. 
St.  James,  M. 
Thomas,  L. 
Tyler,  L. 
Vroman,  N. 


Van  Tassell,  E. 
Wiley,  N. 
Wilson,  J.  E. 
Willis,  J. 
Warner,  B.  F. 
Watson,  G. 
Weaver,  A. 
White,  J. 
Worden,  H.  N. 
Wilson,  E. 
Yerden,  S.  H. 
Yerden,  J. 


COMPANY  "D." 


Adams,  S. 
Annis,  G. 
Allen,  A. 
Ayers,  A. 
Ayers,  M. 
Bennett,  G. 
Bromaghin,  A. 
Brill,  N.  L. 
Brill,  O.  P. 
Bullock,  W. 
Barnes,  H. 
Billings,  G. 
Brown,  J. 
Brown,  D. 
Beach,  E. 
Clark,  W.  W. 
Cramer,  L. 
Cramer,  J.  S. 
Colton,  J.  L. 
Cavenaugh,  J. 
Clark,  G.  R. 


Cardinell,  F. 
Cardinell,  J. 
Carpenter,  G. 
Comstock,  L.  E. 
Colton,  J. 
Cole,  J.  M. 
Carter,  V.  M. 
Carpenter,  N. 
Casey,  T. 
Dawson,  W.  W. 
Daniels,  L. 
Erls,  W. 
Flack,  G.  W. 
Furgerson,  M. 
Furgerson,  H. 
Furgerson,  J. 
Gray,  J.  K. 
•  Geer,  A. 
Galvin,  M. 
Gleason,  L. 
Gleason,  H. 


28 


THE   ORGANIZATION. 


Harmer,  J. 
Hutchinson,  R. 
Hoffman,  N. 
Havens,  W. 


II; 


H. 


Ivers,  T. 
King,  O.  W. 
Knapp,  S. 
Lamphear,  E. 
Lillie,  J.  N. 
Lawrence,  M. 
Lawton,  J. 
Lawson,  Gr.  S. 
Morgan,  A.  Gr. 
Makee,  W. 
Merriliew,  C.  B. 
Merrihue,  V. 
Moore,  J.  D. 
McAllister,  J. 
Manchester,  G.  S. 
Morrill,  C.  B. 
Noble,  0. 
Norman,  S.  C.  F. 
Nelson,  E. 
Nelson,  R. 
Norman,  N. 
Oliver,  W. 


COMPANY 


Allen,  H.  E. 
Annett,  J. 
Bently,  W.  H. 
Benware,  L.  E. 
Berry,  J.  M. 
Burns,  T. 


Platney,  O.  L. 
Palmer,  J. 
Rockwell,  L. 
Rice,  C. 
Richards,  S.  E. 
Reed,  L. 
Reed,  E. 
Robinson,  D.  V. 
Stephenson,  J. 
Scott,  P. 
Streeter,  J. 
Safford,  fr. 
Tuller,  L.  W. 
Titus,  S.  J. 
Taylor,  R. 
Trumble,  W. 
Tupper,  S. 
Wetherell,  W.  R. 
Wells,  J. 

Weiis,  a. 

Wetherell,  D.  B. 
Wellington,  S.  A. 
West,  A. 
Wood,  S. 
Wells,  A. 
Wells,  C. 


Burns,  J. 
Barton,  L.  J. 
Butterfield,  L. 
.Brand,  A.  L. 
Bigelow,  A.  D. 
Brayton,  J. 


THE    ORGANIZATION. 


29 


A. 

Blake,  W. 
Curtis,  0. 
Canfield,  H.   F. 
Collins,  S. 
Chase,  0. 
Cheaney,  C. 
Coopy,  J. 
Cheaney,  G. 
Cornish,  G.  G. 
Curtis,  I. 
Cole,  J.  M. 
Chineveat,  A. 
Chase,  H.  M. 
Clark,  L. 
Crocker,  M. 
Devenport,  G.  H. 
Dailey,  M. 
Eastabrooks,  W. 
Evans,  P.  M. 
Earle,W.  H.  H. 
Fellows,  L. 
Ferris,  J.  N. 
Gage,  L.  S.  , 
Gonia,  F. 
Graves,  F. 
Gallagher,  F. 
Greeno,  L. 
Greeno,  J. 
Groodrich,  Z. 
Gabree,  W. 
Howe,  J. 
Handley,  J. 
Herrichy,  J. 
Hinman   B. 


Hayt,  A. 
Hathaway,  H.  J. 
Kimpton,  W.  H. 
Lee,  N.  F. 
Lee,  L.  L. 
Lamson,  T.  A. 
Low,  R.  G. 
Mooran,  B. 
Melvin,  S.  P. 
Mooney,  J. 
Mulholland,  T. 
Morehead,  W. 
Maher,  P. 
Maher,  E. 
Mortimer  P. 
Park,  W. 
Paye,  H.  N. 
Perrigo,  B.  F. 
Place,  J.  ' 
Prarie,  O. 
Park,  C.  N. 
Place,  H. 
Raymond,  J.  O. 
Ramsdell,  R. 
Russell,  D. 
Raustin,  T. 
Ri-ley,  J. 
Stanley,  M.  D. 
Steemberge,  W. 
St.  Antoine,  G. 
Somers,  A. 
Somers,  B.  C. 
Silsbee,  J.  A. 
Skiff,  A.  N. 
Sancomb,  C! 


so 


THE   ORGANIZATION. 


Sabins,  H. 

Thompson,  E.  A. 

Smith,  a. 

Thompson,  S.  R.  C. 

Stancliff,  E.  K. 

Washburn,  Q. 

Smith,  A. 

Wood,  F. 

Skeels,  W.  C. 

Wilcox,  A.  H. 

Sherden,  M. 

Willard,  C.  D. 

Silsbee,  G.  M. 

Weller,  H.  a. 

Taro,  F. 

Walohon,  B. 

COMPANY 

"F."           '•>.'' 

Adams,  J.  W. 

Eggelston,  J. 

Adrain,  H. 

Fiefield,J. 

Ames,  L.  B. 

Fredenberg,  R, 

Allen,  J. 

Flanigan,  J. 

Byette,  J. 

Flanigan,  H. 

Barker,  W.  J. 

Farmer,  B. 

Boyd,  T. 

Fairbanks,  J. 

Beyzett,  J. 

Flack,  H. 

Byett,  S. 

Guilfoil,  -M. 

Carnithan,  L. 

Gordon,  W. 

Chilton,  J. 

Grimshaw,  J. 

Conklin,  J. 

Giffin,  D.  G. 

Clark,  J.  C. 

Guild,  W. 

Coffee,  A. 

Gotham,  J. 

Cozens,  C. 

Giffin,  D.  W. 

Cozens,  B. 

Head,  M. 

Cleland,  W. 

Hullitt,  W. 

Chambers,  J. 

Heath,  S. 

Chambers,  T. 

Hydorn,  J. 

Cleland,  G. 

Haverstock,  C. 

Daniels,  H. 

Heath,  H. 

Downs,  H. 

Havens,  H. 

Downs,  J.  W. 

Harvey,  A. 

Donnelly,  E. 

Keyse,  -J. 

Durham,  A. 

Kellison,  J. 

THE   ORGANIZATION. 


31 


Kennedy,  J. 
Leonard,  M. 
Mahony,  P. 
Mills,  J.  31. 
McDonald,  W. 
Nolan,  31. 
Prouse,  F. 
Page,  J.  F. 
Palmer,  H. 
Pruner,  A. 
Reva,  J. 
Robinson,  J. 
Rice,  C. 
Reed,  F. 
Reilly,  F. 
Ryan,  J. 
Radican,  J. 
Smithers,  A. 
Stevens,  M. 
Stevens,  H. 


Santo,  A. 
Schuyler,  J. 
Smith,  W. 
Santo,  C. 
Stewart,  G. 
Stewart,  H. 
Stone,  N. 
Sayers,  Or. 
Stewart,  W. 
Stork,  J. 
Spring,  M. 
Sullivan,  D. 
Sewell,  G-. 
Turner,  E. 
Thayer,  E. 
Thompson,  H. 
Wright,  J. 
Wardell,  J..M. 
Weymouth,.C. 
Walrath,  A. 


COMPANY  "G." 


Adams,  A. 
Arney,  J. 
Alguire,  J. 
Bird,  S.  R. 
Bird,0. 
Bordwell,  B.  T. 
Burzee,  W.  G. 
Boland,  J. 
Barnard,  J. 
Bromley,  J. 
Burzee,  C. 
Corbino,  L. 


Curry,  A. 
Corey,  J. 
Caple,  M. 
Corey,  S. 
Champian,  G. 
Dano,  C.  E. 
Darsell,  N. 
Doran,  E. 
Dundon,  P. 
Dano,  J.  H. 
Eggleston,  J. 
Foot,  C. 


THE   ORGANIZATION. 


Farley,  J. 

Miller,  D. 

Flora,  P. 

Morrison,  D. 

Grans,  G. 

Miller,  S. 

Grans,  N. 

McNamarra,  R. 

Graham,  A. 

McNally,  T. 

Gardiner,  L. 

Myers,  S. 

Gates,  W.. 

Nichols,  B. 

How,  G. 

Olney,  E.  J. 

Horton,  C. 

Oney,  L. 

Hedding,  J. 

Hies,  G.  R. 

Hatch,  J.  C. 

Rickey,  H. 

Hepburn,  A. 

Royce,  A. 

Isner,  A.     . 

Rusaw,  L. 

Johnson,  M. 

Seeley,  D.  G. 

Johnson,  I. 

Saunders,  0.  W 

Johnson,  J. 

.     Shoen,  A. 

Jordin,  W.  G. 

Shanan,  H. 

Keen  an,  W. 

Sutton,  A. 

Lavier,  G. 

Smith,  B. 

Lockwood,  E.  L. 

Short,  T.  C. 

Lewis,  C.  W. 

Scholl,  J. 

Lytle,  G. 

Thompson,  C. 

Loomis,  A.  G. 

Taylor,  B.  F. 

Laughery,  H.  A. 

Tomlinson,  J. 

Lanway,  L. 

Turner,  H. 

Lytle,  A.  E. 

Turner,  H.  C. 

Miller,  W. 

Wait,  J.  S. 

Miller,  J.  E. 

Wilson,  L.  B. 

Merys,  J.  T. 

Woodley,  J.  E. 

Mead,  H. 

Wright,  E.  L. 

Murry,  P. 

Ward,  P. 

McCloud,  N. 

Wilson,  A. 

McNamarra,  J. 

Woomark,  J. 

McCabe,  T. 

Welsh,  J.  R. 

McDowell,  H. 

Wilson,  L. 

THE   ORGANIZATION, 


33 


COMPANY  " 

Ayres,  P. 
Allen,  A.  L. 
Ackerson,  D.  M. 
Brooks,  B.  F. 
Barcornb,  T. 
Buckman,  H.  H. 
Blanchard,  J. 
Bruce,  W. 
Bond,  L.  M. 
Bully,  G. 
Brockway,  P.  H. 
Baker,  P. 
Cox,  J. 
Chase,  R.  A. 
Curtis,  C.» 
Cain,  J. 

Dickinson,  C.  H. 
Dixon,  R. 
Dukett,  E. 
Davis,  A. 
Denacore,  M. 
Ebare,  D. 
Finch,  W.  H. 
Guiniup,  A.  W. 
Gannon,  B. 
Guiniup,  A.  A. 
Hubbell,  A.  F. 
Huckins,  J.  A. 
Howes,  A.  S. 
Hayward,  M.  M. 
Hayford,  J.  B. 
Harding,  W.  C. 
Harbison,  F. 


Ingrain,  J. 
Kirby,  T. 
Kelly,  M. 
Long,  H. 
Lablue,  A. 
Lezott,  B. 
Lasua,  S. 
Lafountain,  W. 
Lavanway,  D. 
Long,  S. 
Lapage,  A. 
Luther,  A.  G. 
Lafountain,  O. 
McAvoy,  J. 
Myers,  H. 
Moss,  P. 
Miller,  F. 
Mayo,  G. 
Malhinch,  T. 
Monett,  G. 
Megin,  J. 
Masury,  W.  T. 
Masury,  G.  W.  M. 
Nichols,  J. 
Neill,  J. 
Nicholls,  D. 
O'Connell,  J. 
Oriel,  C. 
Porter,  E.  H. 
Powers,  E. 
Passenau,  S. 
Ploof,  G. 
Pray,  A.  H. 


34 


THE    ORGANIZATION. 


Pickle,  J. 
Preno,  B. 
Rider,  S. 
Rubade.au,  M. 
Rogers  J. 
Rogers,  A. 
Stone,  J. 
Stearns,  J.  C. 
Stacy,  P. 
Trudell,  B. 
Tees,  W. 
Jhurber,  J.  H. 


Tryon,  M.  M. 
Traner,  0. 
Upton,  W. 
Upton,  E. 
Vaughn,  A. 
Wisher,  J.  H. 
Wilson,  H. 
Wilson,  A. 
Wells,  C. 
White,  J.  E. 
Welch,  H. 


COMPANY  "I." 


Brown,  J. 
Babcock,  L. 
Barnes,  J.  A. 
Bashan,  J. 
Bashan>  P. 
Blaisdell,  A. 
Brownson,  J.  M. 
Blaisdell,  S. 
Blount,  J.  P. 
Chaffer,  C.  P. 
Chaffer,  J.  E. 
Chaffer,  N.  J. 
Courtney,  G-. 
Curtis,  W.  H. 
Chase,  N.  P. 
Curtis,  L.  P. 
Curtis,  E. 
Cutler,  C.  B. 
Daggett,  N. 
Daggett,  G.  W. 
De  Cair,  D. 


De  Cair,  J. 
Davis,  H.  W. 
De  Burke,  T. 
Dawson,  T. 
Eldridge,  E. 
Fairfield,  A. 
Fiske,  A. 
Fiske,  B. 
Fiske,  R. 
Flanders,  R. 
Forbes,  S. 
Griffin,  L.  C. 
Gray,  C. 
Gray,  F.  L. 
Hartson,  P. 
Hoxie,  F. 
Holmes,  N. 
Hamlin,  F. 
Harvey,  J. 
Humphey,  W. 
Johnson,  F. 


THE   ORGANIZATION. 


35 


Kent,  E.  A. 
Kendall,  H.  D. 
King.,  J. 
Kirby,  C. 
Knowlton,  W.  W. 
Leahy,  W. 
Leahy,  D. 
Le  Drake,  S. 
Lavane,  A. 
Malia,  P. 
McCarthy,  T. 
Meacham,  W. 
Morgan,  W. 
Murphy,  W. 
Murphy,  T. 
McDonald,  P. 
McCauslin,  W. 
McDonald,  D. 
Nash,  D.  A. 
Nobles,  J. 
Pease,  C.  0. 
Pease,  C. 
Peck,  L. 
Poquet,  J*. 


Pease,  N. 
Peck,  N. 
Pettis,  R.  R. 
Quagin,  M. 
Regan,  J. 
Remington,  H. 
Rising,  J. 
Stearns,  T.  J. 
Shampine,  J. 
Sanford,  C. 
Shelden,  P. 
Smith,  H.  J. 
Sweeney,  J. 
Shampine,  I. 
Townsend,  A.  R. 
Tyner,  R. 
Waist,  C.  E. 
Ward,  M. 
Whitman,  D.  P. 
Wood,  C.  B. 
Winslow,  F.  L 
Wilbur,  G. 
Whitman,  H. 
Wood,  A. 


Angus,  J. 
Aldons,  C. 
Austin,  J. 
Barker,  D. 
Bullis,  M. 
Buttles,  H.  W. 
Bruce,  A. 
Bruce,  0.  0. 
Barnhart,  E. 


COMPANY  "K." 

Blanchard,  E. 
Bowen,  J. 
Ballow,  S. 
Boyed,  R. 
Conlin,  J.   C. 
Currier,  I. 
Chambers,  D. 
Chambers,  H. 
Chapin,  J. 


36 


THE   ORGANIZATION. 


Conlin,  J. 
Cleflen,  O. 
Crawford,  L. 
Currier,  H. 
Castle,  H.  A. 
Catura,  F. 
Davis,  C.  P. 
Dunton,  0.  C. 
Duffy,  F. 
Daily,  B.  H. 
Dwane,  J. 
Doarn,  S. 
Daniels,  B.  E. 
Daniels,  A. 

Ellis,  a.  w. 

Ellis,  W.  P. 
Eveson,  J. 
Fields,  J.  F. 
Freeman,  D.  R. 
Ford,  M.  S. 
Follette,  E.  R.. 
Force,  C. 
Forward,  J.  L. 
Force,  C. 
Griffis,  E.  P. 
G-leason,  Gr. 
Gillin,  M. 
Gurley,  W.  D. 
Haywood,  M.  H. 
Hicks,  S.  V. 
Howe,  D.  H. 
Howe,  W.  L. 
Harrington,  L.  C. 
Hickey,  M.  A. 
Hudson,  D.  A. 


Haywood,  E. 
Hanks,  L. 
Kelsey,  J.  E. 
Lun,  W. 
Ladd,  W.  M. 
Liskum,  W. 
Laden,  J. 
Lanway,  J.  H. 
Mills,  J.  R. 
Mason,  E. 
Merritt,  J. 
Miller,  W. 
Mason,  L. 
Mayhew,  J. 
Munson,  P.  A. 
Miller,  A. 
Meacliam,  H.  E. 
Newell,  G. 
Parker,  H.  A. 
Parker,  J.  S. 
Peck,  E. 
Preston,  D. 
Potter,  L. 
Page,  F.  S. 
Perry,  J.  W. 
Perry,  J.  T. 
Preston,  J. 
Rich,  E.  A. 
Rush,  a. 
Reed,  D. 
Rowley,  H.  B. 
Steenbarge,  A.  T. 
Stewart,  J. 
Sullivan,  J.  O. 
Sheldon,  H. 


THE   ORGANIZATION.  37 

Stoddard,  S.  Wheelock,  G.  S. 

Stevens,  J.  Wakefield,  W.  N. 

Shampine,  L.  Webster,  E. 

Thomas,  J.  White,  O. 

Tripp,  R.  Whiting,  G.  W. 

The  full  strength  of  the  Regiment  on  leaving  for  the  seat 
of  war,  November  1st,  1861,  was  as  follows: 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 
Colonel— William  B.  Hayward. 
Lieutenant-Colonel — William  B.  Goodrich. 
Major — Charles  R.  Brundage. 
Surgeon — James  S.  Gale. 
Assistant  Surgeon — William  B.  Chambers. 
Chaplain — Richard  Eddy. 
Quartermaster — Edwin  A.  Merritt. 
Quartermaster  Sergeant — Byron  T.  Bordwell. 
'Commissary  Sergeant — Duncan  M.  Robertson. 
Hospital  Steward — George  G.  Cornish. 
Principal  Musician — Sanford  Blaisdell. 
Drum  Major— Wilder  P.  Ellis. 
Sergeant  Major — George  W.  Hill. 

COMPANY  OFFICERS. 

Captain  William  Montgomery,  Company  A. 
Captain  David  Day,  2d,  Company  B. 
Captain  John  C.  0.  Redington,  Company  C. 
Captain  Winslow  M.  Thomas,  Company  D. 
Captain  William  H.  Hyde,  Company  E. 
Captain  Thomas  Elliott,  Company  F. 
Captain  Hugh  Smith,  Company  G. 
Captain  James  M.  Ransom,  Company  H. 
Captain  Jesse  H.  Jones,  Company  I. 
Captain  Abel  Godard,  Company  K. 
4 


38  THE   ORGANIZATION. 

First  Lieutenant  Benjamin  R.  Clark,  Company  A. 
First  Lieutenant  John  Snyder,  Company  B. 
First  Lieutenant  James  Young,  Company  C. 
First  Lieutenant  James  M.  King,  Company  D. 
First  Lieutenant  P.  Shelly  Sinclair,  Company  E. 
First  Lieutenant  John  Delany,  Company  F. 
First  Lieutenant  Orson  M.  Foot,  Company  G. 
First  Lieutenant  Loring  E.  White,  Company  H. 
First  Lieutenant  Guy  Hogan,  Company  I. 
First  Lieutenant  Henry  C.  Eastman,  Company  K. 
Second  Lieutenant  James  Hurst,  Company  B. 
Second  Lieutenant  Thomas  Hobart,  Company  C. 
Second  Lieutenant  George  M.  Gleason,  Company  D. 
Second  Lieutenant  Hosea  C.  Reynolds,  Company  E. 
Second  Lieutenant  Milton  F.  Spencer,  Company  F. 
Second  Lieutenant  John  Dundon,  Jr.,  Company  G. 
Second  Lieutenant  Marcellus  L.  Fitch,  Company  H. 
Second  Lieutenant  Lyman  M.  Shedd,  Company  I. 
Second  Lieutenant  Abner  B.  Shipman,  Company  l£. 

BAND. 

Henry  S.  Wright,  Leader. 

1st  Class.    W.  H.  Easton,  2d  Class.   J.  M.  Bonner. 

J.  L.  Millis,  H.  Conway, 

P.  S.  Pasha,  D.  C.  Packard, 

J.  A.  Wood,  G.  W.  Coburn, 

S.  A.  Green,  G.  R.  Ries. 

3d  Class.  E.  L.  Lockwood,  L.  McClallen, 

A.  Hamel,  M.  J.  White, 

M.  M.  Follett,  E.  Axtell, 

H.  E.  Kirkham,  J.  F.  Crowley. 
T.  Carr, 


THE   ORGANIZATION. 


NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS  AND  PRIVATES. 


- 

PRESENT. 

PRIVATES  ABSENT. 

1 

*. 

GO 

2 

1 

s 
8 

1 
1 

4 

55 

f 

"Til 
3 
M 

<§ 

'I 

1 
F 

1- 

1 

4 
5 
4 
5 
5 
4 
5 
5 
5 
5 

6 

8 
8 
8 
8 
8 
7 
8 
8 
8 

1 
1 
1 

2 

2 

2 
2 
2 

82 
58 
70 
81 
82 
71 
75 
74 
72 
76 

1 

6 
1 

3 

5 
2 

1 

4 

7 

96 
78 
88 
98 
96 
87 
91 
89 
87 
98 

B  

c  

D  

E  

F  

G  

H  

I  

K  

47 

77 

13 

741 

1 

7 

22 

936 

Field  and  Staff 13 

Captains  and  Lieutenants 29 

Band 20 


Whole  strength  of  the  Regiment 998 


40  GOING   INTO   SERVICE. 


II. 

GOING  INTO  SERVICE. 

WHEN  the  action  of  the  officers  was  reported  to  me,  I  felt 
that  it  was  my  duty  to  contend  for  what  seemed  to  be  my 
right,  and  not  submit,  if  I  could  prevent  it,  to  the  fickleness 
of  those  whose  previous  assent  to  my  appointment  had  been 
the  cause  of  my  leaving  my  charge  at  Canton,  and  making 
other  material  changes. 

I  immediately  went  to  the  village  of  Ogdensburgli,  and 
consulted  with  friends  who  were  familiar  with  all  the  facts 
concerning  my  connection  with  the  regiment;  and,  by  their 
advice,  determined  to  go  in  person  to  Albany,  and  lay  the 
case  before  Governor  Morgan.  Hon.  A.  B.  James  gave  me  a 
letter  of  introduction  to  his  Excellency,  in  which  he  reminded 
him  that  the  papers  necessary  for  m'y  appointment  were 
already  on  file  with  the  Adjutant-General,  and  urged  that  the 
ends  of  justice  would  only  be  met  by  my  receiving  the  com 
mission  which  the  Governor  had  already  promised  me. 

On  the  way  to  Albany,  I  met  Hon.  C.  G.  Myers,  then 
Attorney-General  of  the  State,  and  Hon.  W.  II.  Dart,  United 
States  District  Attorney,  both  of  whom,  after  reading  Judge 
James'  letter,  appended  to  it  a  few  words  of  commendation 
and  approval.  Thus  furnished  with  what  would  at  least  pro 
cure  me  an  audience  with  the  Governor,  I  reached  Albany, 
and  at  once  applied  for  admission  at  the  Executive  Chamber, 
which  was  immediately  granted.  Colonel  Hayward  had  sent 
a  long  telegram  to  the  Governor,  desiring  him  to  send  a  com 
mission  direct  to  Rev.  Dr.  Scudder,  and  some  one  else  had 


GOING   INTO    SERVICE.  41 

forwarded  a  message  requesting  him  to  do  nothing  about  it 
till  I  should  arrive.  I  was  therefore  expected,  and  at  once 
obtained  an  interview.  After  reading  the  letter,  and  satisfy 
ing  himself  that  I  was  a  regularly  ordained  minister,  the 
Governor  went  into  the  Adjutant-General's  room,  where  he 
found  and  soon  returned  with  the  letter  of  Colonel  Brun- 
dage,  containing  my  nomination,  and  the  certificate  I  have 
previously  mentioned,  and  which  reads  as  follow: — 

"  CAMP  WHEELER,  Sept.  17th,  1861. 
"  To  REV.  RICHARD  EDDY  : 

"  This  is  to  certify  to  you  that  I  have,  with  the  consent  and 
approval  of  the  following  named  Captains,  nominated  you  for 
the  Chaplaincy  of  the  Regiment  now  being  organized  at  this 
camp. 

Captain  W.  B.  Goodrich,  Captain  Thomas  Elliott, 

D.  Day,  2d,  "       Hugh  Smith, 

W.  M.  Thomas,  "       J.  M.  Ransom, 

"       W.  II.  Hyde,  "       A.  Godard. 

Very  respectfully,  yours, 

CHAS.  R.  BRUNDAGE, 

Colonel  Commanding." 

On  reading  these  documents  and  referring  to  paragraph  15 
of  General  Orders  No.  78,Vhich  prescribes  the  manner  in 
which  Chaplains  shall  be  appointed,  (as  see  Chapter  I.,)  the 
Governor  decided  that  my  appointment  was  regular,  and  that 
I  need  give  myself  no  further  concern  about  it.  On  my  rep 
resenting  to  him  that  the  regiment  had  probably  left  camp 
that  morning,  but  that  I,  uncertain  how  my  case  might  be 
decided,  had  been  compelled  to  leave  niy  horse  and  baggage 
behind,  he  sent  me  to  the  Quartermaster-General,  who  fur 
nished  me  with  transportation  to  Ogdensburgh,  and  back 
again  to  Albany,  where  I  was  to  report  for  further  orders. 

In  a  short  time  I  was  on  my  way  to  Ogdensburgh,  via 
Whitehall,  at  which  place  I  remained  over  night.  The  regi 
ment  left  Ogdensburgh  for  Albany  on  the  morning  of  Novem- 


42  GOING    INTO   SERVICE. 

ber  1st,  and  was  expected  at  Whitehall  early  on  the  morning 
of  the  2d.  A  little  before ,  daylight  I  went  down  to  the 
wharf.  The  boats  were  just  in.  I  reported  myself  to  Colonel 
Hayward  as  his  Chaplain,  reminding  him  that  I  had  pre 
viously  informed  him  what  papers  I  had  on  file  in  Albany, 
and  that  the  Governor  had  decided  that  they  were  sufficient. 
The  Colonel  seemed  very  much  surprised  and  embarrassed, 
and  simply  answered :  "  Very  well,  sir !  very  well !" 

I  accompanied  the  regiment  as  far  as  Saratoga,  and  there 
took  the  return  train.  Colonel  H.  remarked  to  the  Adjutant 
that  he  should  upset  my  matters  as  soon  as  he  got  to  Albany, 
and  was  very  confident  that  Dr.  Scudder  would  yet  have  the 
Chaplaincy.  Accordingly  he  took  Major  Brundage  with  him 
to  an  interview  with  the  Governor,  and  desired  the  Major  to 
give  a  full  statement  of  the  case;  upon  his  doing  which  the 
Governor  replied :  "  That  is  just  what  Mr.  Eddy  stated  yes 
terday/' 

"  Then  you  will  appoint  Dr.  Scudder,  of  course,"  said 
Colonel  Hayward. 

"  No,"  replied  the  Governor,  "  We  don't  do  things  here 
one  day  to  undo  them  the  next." 

It  was  intended  that  the  regiment  should  go  directly  through 
to  Washington,  without  delay;  but,  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  Colonel,  they  were  landed  in  New  York.  After  being 
uncomfortably  quartered  on  filthy  boats  and  barges  during 
the  most  of  Saturday  and  the  whole  of  Sunday,  they  were 
marched  up  town  on  Monday  morning,  where  two  flags  were 
presented,  one  by  Mrs.  A.  T.  Stewart,  and  the  other  by  the 
firm  and  employees  of  Stone,  Starr  &  Co.  The  latter  was 
presented  at  Union  Square;  and  I  find  the  following  account 
of  the  presentation  in  the  "  Journal  of  the  American  Tem 
perance  Union :" 

"COLONEL  HAYWARD'S  SPEECH. 

/Tew  men  are  of  as  high  Christian  character  as  Colonel  Ilay- 
ward,  of  the  60th  Regiment  New  York  Volunteers.     On  being 


GOING   INTO   SERVICE.  43 

presented  with  a  banner  by  the  house  of  Stone  &  Starr,  in  New 
York,  he  said : 

"'Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  My  heart  is  full — full.  A  man's 
sense  of  duty,  and  devotion  to  his  country  and  his  God,  and  to 
the  dear  friends  who  entrust  him  with  their  confidence,  must  be 
read  in  his  acts,  not  in  his  words.  Unaccustomed  as  I  am  to 
speaking  in  such  a  presence  in  the  open  air,  I  cannot  hope  to 
make  you  feel  what  I  feel.  But  I  trust  you  will  bear  with  me, 
and  believe  me.  Need  I  say  to  you  how  much  I  feel  honored  by 
the  friends  who  have  bestowed  upon  me  and  this  regiment — not 
yet  more  than  fifty  days  since  the  enlistment,  new  to  their  duties, 
and  not  quite  so  well  drilled  as  some  "of  the  Seventh  Regiment 
whom  I  see  before  me — this  beautiful  ensign,  the  flag  of  our 
Union !  It  is  an  honor  which  deeply  moves  me,  and  of  which  I 
feel,  as  I  read  myself,  altogether  unworthy. 

"  '  Yet  I  would  respond  frankly  to  the  new  obligations  which 
this  presentation  lays  upon  me.  Jf  I  have  any  ambition,  it  is 
an  ambition  to  do  my  whole  duty  to  you,  my  friends,  my  coun 
try,  and  my  God,  and  deserve  the  honor  which  is  this  day  and 
in  this  presence  bestowed  upon  me  and  my  regiment.  I  go  but 
to  my  service  to  my  country  as  a  duty  which  I  owe  to  God  first 
of  all,  then  to  my  country,  then,  my  friendg,  to  you. 

"  '  I  go  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  God  Almighty,  and  in  that 
name  we  will  bear  aloft  this  banner.  I  go  to  the  field  because  I 
believe  it  is  the  will  of  my  Heavenly  Father ;  and  should  I  fail 
— I  will  -recall  it ;  I  will  not  use  the  word.  To  him  who  goes  at 
the  call  of  duty— in  the  name  of  the  Lord — there  can  be  no  such 
thing  as  fail. 

"  '  My  employers,  my  friends,  I  here  unsheath  this  sword.  It 
is  no  idle  sign.  My  heart's  blood  goes  with  this  sword;  and 
both  go  to  defend  this  banner,  and  carry  it  where  victory  awaits 
us.  In  the  name  of  the  Lord  we  will  set  up  our  banner.  My 
heart  is  full,  and  grows  fuller  still  as  I  look  upon  this  flag,  and 
this  monument  to  the  father  of  our  country,  and  to  the  pre 
sence  of  these  dear  friends,  from  whom  I  am  about  to  separate. 
Friends,  I  will  now  say  farewell. 

"  '  With  this'— looking  up  at  the  flag,  as  he  grasped  it  in  his 
hand — 'this  right  arm  shall  be  stronger  than  ever,  and  this 
heart  shall  be  more  courageous.  This  shall  lead  us.  Accept 


44  GOING  INTO  SERVICE. 

my  thanks,  and  the  thanks  of  these  brave,  good  men  whom  you 
see  around  you/ 

"Many  eyes  glistered  with  tears,  as  those  last  words  were 
uttered;  for  the  manner  of  the  speaker  moved  as  much  as  his 
simple,  eloquent  speech.  At  the  close  the  Colonel  was  loudly 
cheered,  and  also  the  Sixtieth,  the  noble  regiment  which  he 
commands." 

After  this  delay  and  ceremony — very  gratifying,  no  doubt, 
to  the  Colonel  and  his  friends,  but  so  uncomfortable  and  an 
noying  to  the  men,  that  they  complained  most  bitterly — the 
regiment  moved  towards  Washington.  While  waiting  in 
Baltimore  for  coffee,  which  was  being  prepared  by  the  Union 
Relief  Association,  Colonel  Hayward  ordered  the  regiment 
drawn  up  in  line  on  the  platform  at  the  Washington  Railroad 
Depot,  and  set  Adjutant  Gale  to  distributing  tracts  among 
them.  The  people  looked  •  on  in  wonderful  admiration,  and 
forthwith  named  the  command,  "  The  Pious  Regiment  I"  I 
am  sorry  to  say  that,  as  this  reputation  was  built  only  on  a 
surface  show,  the  Sixtieth  did  not  long  retain  their  new  name ! 

Arriving  in  Washington,  the  regiment  was  sent  into  camp 
at  Kalarama  Heiglits,  distant  about  three  miles  from  the 
Capitol.  I  did  not  participate  in  any  of  these  New  York, 
Baltimore  ot  Washington  experiences,  but  according  to  all 
accounts  was  not  thereby  deprived  of  any  pleasure  ! 

I  rejoined  the  regiment  on  the  morning  of  November  9th, 
at  which  time  I  found  the  men  drawn  up  near  the  Baltimore 
depot,  at  Washington,  where  they  had  been  since  daylight, 
waiting  for  transportation.  No  one  appeared  amiable.  All 
looked  cross,  tired,  and  nervous.  Lt.  Col.  Goodrich  was  the 
first  man  I  spoke  to.  He  replied  to  the  salutation  of  "  How 
are  you?"  "I  am  d — d  mad!"  "Not  quite  as  bad  as 
that,  I  guess,"  was  the  remonstrance.  "  Yes,  full  as  bad.  I 
never  was  more  mad  in  my  life  I"  "What  appears  to  be  the 
trouble  ?"  "  Trouble  enough  !  We  have  got  the  devilishest 
fool  for  a  colonel  that  ever  lived!"  On  that  point  there 
seemed  to  be  entire  unanimity,  although  some  were  less  em- 


GOING   INTO   SERVICE.  45 

phatlc  than  others  in  expressing  their  thoughts;  but  a  great 
many  used  all  the  hard  and  profane  words  in  the  language  in 
their  efforts  to  relieve  their  feelings.  Quartermaster  Merritt 
looked  as  sorely  tried  as  any  of  the  others,  but  to  appearance 
took  a  more  religious  view,  for  his  answer  to  the  same  salu 
tation  with  which  I  greeted  the  Lieut-Colonel,  was,  "Pray  for 
us,  Chaplain !  We  are  in  an  awful  fix ;  get  us  out  of  it  if 
you  can !" 

How  to  get  out  of  it,  was  the  chief  problem  in  the  Regi 
ment,  from  that  time  till  deliverance  was  accomplished. 


46  RAILROAD   DUTY. 


III. 
RAILROAD  DUTY. 

THE  train,  for  which  the  regiment  was  waiting  in  Washing 
ton,  was  ready  for  it  sometime  before  noon,  and  late  in  the 
afternoon  landed  the  Right  Wing,  consisting  of  Co/s  "  B,'' 
"  G,"  "  E,"  "  K,"  "  D,"  at  the  Relay  House,  and  took  the 
Left  Wing,  Co.VI,"  «F,"  "A,"  "H,"  "C,"  on  towards  Bal 
timore,  dropping  Co.  "I"  about  two  miles  from  the  Relay, 
Co.  "F"  about  a  mile  and  a  half  further  on,  Co.  "A"  nearly, 
if  not  quite  the  same  distance  beyond,  and  Co.'s  "C"  and  "H'; 
at  Jackson's  bridge,  near  the  Baltimore  city  limits. 

This  movement  was  made,  and  the  companies  stationed, 
under  the  supervision  of  Col.  John  C.  Robinson,  of  the  1st. 
Regt.  Michigan  vols.,  at  that  time  acting  Brigadier  of  all  the 
forces  on  railroad  duty.  The  necessity  for  such  a  guard  arose 
from  the  fact  that  the  Potomac  was  strongly  blockaded  by  the 
rebels,  and  all  Government  freight,  whether  coming  from  the 
North,  East,  or  West,  must  pass  through  Maryland,  and  over 
this  one  line  of  road.  Maryland  loyalty  was  not  then  above 
suspicion ;  in  fact  it  was  hardly  known  who,  among  the  masses, 
was  for  or  against  the  Union.  It  was  important,  therefore, 
that  a  strong  force  should  be  put  on  the  road,  to  make  sure 
that  it  was  kept  open  and  undisturbed.  At  the  time  we  went 
on  the  road,  and  for  several  months  after,  the  following  regi 
ments  were  doing  guard  duty  between  the  Relay  and  Wash 
ington  :  Tenth  Maine,  First  Michigan,  and  First  District  of 


RAILROAD  DUTY.  47 

Columbia,  Volunteers.  We  relieved  the  Tenth  Maine  of  their 
posts  at  and  near  the  Relay,  and  they  went  up  towards  Anna 
polis  Junction. 

About  this  time  the  loyal  people  of  Baltimore  and  vicinity 
were  making  strong  efforts  to  draw  a  definite  line  between 
those  who  were  for  and  those  who  were  against  the  Govern 
ment.  A  Vigilance  Committee  was  organized,  which  adopted, 
among  other  measures,  the  sending  of  the  following  circular 
to  such  as  they  had  reason  to  suspect  were  in  sympathy  with 
the  rebels  : 

GOD  AND  THE  UNION. 

HEADQUARTERS  OF  UNION  VIGILANCE'  COMMITTEE, 

•  Baltimore,  Md. 

Sir: 

As  a  person  favoring  Traitors  to  the  Union,  you  are  notified 
that  your  name  is  recorded  on  the  List  of  this  Association. 

Your   movements   are   Strictly  Watched,  and  unless  you 
change  your  course  and  at  once  give  your  support  to  the  Union, 
you  will  be  dealt  with  as  a  Traitor. 
By  order  of  the  Committee, 

J.  B.,  Secretary. 

We  arrived  at  the  Relay  in  a  storm.  The  Colonel  took 
shelter  in  the  hotel,  and  sent  the  Lieutenant-Colonel  to  look 
out  a  camping-ground.  The  only  really  suitable  place  was 
occupied  by  the  Tenth  Maine,  and  we  had  to  content  ourselves 
for  the  night  with  an  open  field  adjoining.  The  next  day 
was  Sunday ;  but  as  it  was  still  storming,  we  held  no  service. 
Calling  on  the  Colonel  at  his  hotel,  in  the  morning,  he  in 
quired  of  me  how  the  men  were  getting  along ;  to  which  I 
replied  that  they  had  got  their  tents  up,  and  were  very  com 
fortable  ;  but  that  there  was  a  very  unhappy  feeling  against 
him,  which,  if  it  proceeded  from  any  mistake  or  ignorance, 
he  had  better  talk  with  them  about  it,  and  explain,  imme 
diately,  for  there  was  too  much  unanimity  in  the  dissatisfac- 


48  RAILROAD   DUTY 

tion  to  justify  his  passing  it  unnoticed.  He  replied  that  there 
was  no  ground  for  dissatisfaction ;  he  had  done  nothing  that 
should  give  offence,  having,  in  every  instance,  simply  obeyed 
orders,  and  at  all  times  done  the  best  he  could  for  the  comfort 
of  the  men.  I  answered  that  I  knew  nothing  of  the  circum 
stances  to  which  he  alluded,  but  that  there  was  a  wide  differ 
ence  of  opinion  between  him  and  the  command,  and  that  no 
time  was  to  be  lost  if  he  wished  to  disabuse  their  minds  and 
restore  their  confidence. 

He  returned  with  me  to  the  camp,  and  made  an  address  to 
the  men;  desiring  me  to  add  a  few  remarks ;  it  belonging  to  the 
Chaplain,  he  said,  "  to  act  as  mediator  between  the  Colonel 
and  his  command." 

In  the  course  of  his  remarks,  the  Colonel  alluding  to  some 
of  the  circumstances  of  which  they  ^complained,  over  which 
he  had  no  control,  made  use  of  an  expression  ^which  pleased 
the  boys  very  much,  and  was  afterwards  used  by  them  when 
ever  they  conversed  on  anything  for  which  they  did  not  think 
themselves  responsible.  The  weather  had  been  bad,  and  a 
detention  was  made  by  failure  to  procure  the  necessary  num 
ber  of  frogs,  a  small  movable  piece  of  leather  attached  to  the 
belt,  and  in  which  the  bayonet  scabbard  is  inserted.  The 
Colonel's  excuse  for  their  chief  troubles  was  :  "  God  sent  .the 
rain  ;  and  the  frogs  didn't  come !" 

I  went  as  far  in  the  work  of  reconciliation  as  I  considered 
the  circumstances  to  warrant,  by  saying  to  the  men  that  I 
hoped  they  would  give  the  Colonel's  words  all  the  considera 
tion  they  thought  them  entitled  to,  in  view  of  all  the  facts  in 
the  case,  known  to  them,  but  merely  told  to  me. 

Evidently  his  words  did  not  reach  the  point,  for  the  men 
grew  more  bitter  in  their  feelings  against  him,  and  the  officers 
more  strong  in  their  determination  to  solve  their  problem  by 
getting  rid  of  their  Colonel. 

Meanwhile  we  were  getting  well  initiated  in  railroad  guard 
duty.  The  Tenth  Maine  moved  away,  and  we  burnt  up  the 
rubbish  and  laid  out  a  new  camp  on  the  ground  they  had 


RAILROAD    DUTY.  49 

occupied.  The  Colonel  named  it  Camp  Morgan,  in  honor  of 
the  Governor. 

Company  "  B"  went  up  to  Ellicott's  Mills,  on  the  main  stem 
of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  six  miles  west  of  the 
Relay;  Company  "K"  went  to  Fort  Dix,  close  by  the  camp; 
Company  "  F"  moved  up  to  the  Turnpike  Crossing,  about  a  mile 
from  headquarters  ;  Company  "D"  went  down  to  Mount  Clare 
Station ;  Company  "C"  to  Camden  Station  ;  and  Company  "I" 
to  Locust  Point. 

On  the  llth,  William  McDonald,  of  Company  "F,"  being 
on  duty  on  the  railroad  near  the  Four  Mile  Station,  at  about 
three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  felt  faint,  and,  sitting  down  to 
recover,  became  unconscious.  The  New  York  express  train 
passed  while  he  was  in  this  stupor,  and  running  over  one  of 
his  feet  and  ankles,  made  it  necessary  to  amputate  his  leg  just 
below  the  knee. 

One  week  from  the  day  of  our  arrival  at  the  Relay,  the 
company  officers  addressed  Colonel  Hayward  the  following 
letter  : 

CAMP  MORGAN,  Nov.  16,  1861.   \ 
To  COLOXEL  "VVM.  B.  HAYWARD, 

60th  Regt.  N.  Y.  S.  V. 

SIR  :  The  undersigned  officers  of  the  60th  Regiment  N.  Y.  S 
V.,  would  most  respectfully  submit  to  you  the  following  facts. 
By  our  united  efforts  we  raised  a  regiment  of  men  in  Northern 
New  York,  from  the  sturdy  farmers',  mechanics,  hunters  and  la 
borers  of  our  own  immediate  -neighborhoods  ;  men,  who  felt  that 
the  call  of  Country  was  paramount  to  all  other  claims,  and  they 
left  their  homes  with  strong  hearts  and  willing  hands,  deter 
mined  to  do  their  duty  in  any  contingency. 

You  were  recommended  to  these  men  for  their  leader,  and 
though  a  stranger,  relying  upon  those  recommendations,  they  re 
ceived  you  with  open  hearts,  trusting  that  you  were  the  man  to 
maintain  the  good  reputation  of  the  Regiment,  for  no  men,  un- 
drilled,  even  went  into  the  £eld  with  a  better  rcputatiQn,  which 
reputation  was  maintained  until  we  reached  Washington.  Since 
that  time  our  Regiment  has  become  completely  disheartened.  The 
5 


50  RAILROAD   DUTY. 

following  are  in  our  opinion  the  principal  causes.  You,  Colonel, 
have  shown  a  want  of  coolness  and  discretion,  an  excitability 
and  irritability,  a  disregard  for  the  comfort  and  welfare  of  the 
men,  and  an  utter  want  of  humanity,  which,  combined  with  your 
overbearing  conduct,  and  lack  of  common  courtesy  to  the  men 
and  officers,  is  the  immediate  cause  of  all  this  dissatisfaction 
and  discouragement.  In  fact  the  men  and  officers  have  entirely 
lost  confidence  in  you  as  a  commander,  and  the  sentiment  is 
universal  that  you  are  not  the  man  to  give  them  confidence  and 
courage  in  the  field.  We  do  not  wish  to  particularize,  but  your 
sense  ought  to  teach  you  that  you  cannot  expect  men  to  become 
good  and  efficient  soldiers,  with  such  feelings  existing  against 
their  commandant.  We  therefore,  in  view  of  these  facts,  most 
respectfully  as  a  body,  and  as  individuals,  ask  you  to  resign  and 
vacate  your  position  as  Colonel  of  the  60th  Regiment  N.  Y.  S. 
V.  We  ask  it  as  a  duty  which  we  owe  to  the  men  we  have 
brought  into  the  field,  and  to  the  friends  they  have  left  behind, 
and  to  the  Northern  part  of  the  State  of  New  York,  the  interests 
of  which  we  represent.  We  ask  this  too,  as  the  only  possible 
means  of  restoring  confidence  and  courage  to  our  men,  now  com 
pletely  broken  down  and  discouraged. 

Yours,  respectfully. 

This  was  signed  by  all  the  Captains  and  Lieutenants. 
The  next  morning  the  Colonel  sent  up  the  following : 

CAMP  MORGAN,  Relay  House,  Nov.  17,  1861. 
To  THE  COMPANY  COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS 
of  60th  Regt.  N.  Y:  S.  V.         g| 

GENTLEMEN  :  The  tender  of  the  command  of  this  regiment  to 
me,  was  a  surprise.  Its  acceptance  involved  the  relinquishment 
of  a  position  in  the  largest  commercial  house  in  the  United 
States,  and  the  sacrifice  of  about  five  hundred  dollars  per  annum, 
being  the  difference  between  the  compensation  of  the  former  po 
sition,  and  the  pay  and  emoluments  of  my  present  rank.  It  in 
volved  also  an  increase  on  the  annual  premiums  of  my  life  po 
licies  to  about  three  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  per  annum, 
if  our  regiment  serves  above  the  34^h  degree  of  north  latitude, 
or  of  six  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  per  annum,  if  we  should  be 
ordered  south  of  that  degree  in  the  prescribed  summer  months. 


RAILROAD   DUTY.  51 

In  addition  to  all  that,  (say  eleven  bunded  and  fifty  dollars  per 
annum)  the  expense  of  a  colonel's  outfit  has  been  very  consider 
able,  and  will  amount  to  some  five  hundred  dollars  more  the 
first  year. 

Since  I  have  had  command  of  the  regiment,  my  every  solici 
tude  has  been  for  the  procurement  at  the  earliest  possible  moment 
of  every  article  to  whi-ch  every  Commissioned,  Non-commissioned 
Officer  and  Private  is  entitled.  But  as,  since  we  have  been  as 
signed  to  a  brigade,  it  has  been  ordered  that  all  of  our  requisi 
tions  of  every  kind  shall  be  appro  vedj  first  by  myself,  second  by 
the  Acting  Brigadier,  and  third  by  the  Division  Commander, 
some  delay  must  necessarily  occur  before  all  that  the  regiment 
is  entitled  to  shall  be  procured. 

The  Adjutant,  Quartermaster,  and  Non-commissioned  staff, 
have  exerted,  and  are  exerting  themselves  to  the  utmost  to  pro 
cure  the  necessary  blanks,  for  requisitions,  books,  stationery, 
fuel,  subsistence,  clothing,  arms, — in  fact  everything  pertaining 
to  a  regiment. 

A  comparison  of  the  condition  of  regiments  which  have  been 
in  the  field  for  weeks  or  months,  with  ours  so  recently  ar 
rived,  is  unjust  to  every  Field  and  Staff  Officer  of  our  Regi 
ment,  who  are  faithfully  executing  their  several  duties  with  all 
the  facility  the  forms  and  routine  of  office  at  Washington  will 
permit. 

It  would  be  more  just  to  compare  the  condition  of  this  regi 
ment  with  that  of  the  Seventh  New  York  Militia,  or  the  other 
three-months'  men,  who  first  took  the  field ;  but  especially  with 
others  from  New  York  who  immediately  preceded  or  followed  us. 
The  comparison  will  inure  to  our  benefit. 

With  respect  to  the  various  means  of  transportation  from 
Ogdensburgh  to  Washington,  and  here,  they  were  made  by 
order  of  the  Quartermaster's  Department  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  and  of  the  United  States — I  only  having  the  privilege  of 
insisting  upon  "two  cars"  to  each  company,  and  the  freight- 
car,  and  car  for  field  and  staff,  wherever  I  could  do  so  success 
fully,  f 

In  regard  to  orders  to  move  to  Kalarama,  and  from  there  here, 
they  were  imperative  from  Gen.  Casy  and  Gen.  Marcy — the  lat 
ter  the  chief  of  staff  of  Gen.  McClellan.  We  were  not  consulted 


52  RAILROAD   DUTY. 

as  to  location,  or  length  of  time  to  continue.  We  have  received 
orders,  and  have  obeyed  orders  of  our  superiors,  as  bound 
to  do. 

It  is  incumbent  on  you  to  impress  upon  your  companies  that 
the  colonel,  or  any  of  the  field  or  staff,  can  have  no  choice  as  to 
brigade,  division,  location,  or  time  to  march ;  and  that  we  must 
hold  ourselves  in  readiness  to  go  wherever  we  are  ordered,  and 
when  we  are  ordered,  with  great  promptness. 

I  have  made  a  report  to  the  Acting  Assistant  Adjutant-Gen 
eral  of  Acting  Brigadier  Robinson's  Brigade,  relative  to  our 
duties,  and  the  excessive  nature  of  it,  which  I  have  withheld  for 
your  perusal,  in  order  that  you  might  communicate  the  sub 
stance  of  it  to  your  several  companies. 

Since  I  have  been  on  duty  with  you,  I  have  been  suffering 
much  anxiety  for  the  good  of  the  regiment,  in  all  respects,  and 
I  have  also  been  a  sufferer  physically ;  so  much  so  that,  in  civil 
life,  I  should  have  confined  myself  to  the  house  for  cure.  These 
causes,  added  to  the  oft-told  story  that  the  regiment  were 
blaming  me  for  every  want,  for  every  movement,  and  the  dis 
comforts  arising  from  the  weather  sent  from  God,  have  doubt 
less  caused  a  degree  of  irritation,  which  I  regret. 

The  officers  may,  however,  judge  from  the  spontaneous  offering 
of  ALL  the  firm  and  employees  of  Stone,  Starr  &  Co.,  in  the  gift 
of  $he  flag  ;  from  the  unanimity  of  those  with  whom  I  was  more 
immediately  associated  at  A.  T.  Stewart  &  Co.'s,  in  the  gift  of 
the  sword  I  wear  ;  and  from  the  gift  of  a  flag  by  Mrs.  A.  T.  Stew 
art,  at  the  hands  of  Mr.  Stewart,  that,  in  the  future,  and  when 
we  become  more  settled,  the  Colonel  will  render  to  every  one  in 
the  regiment  the  respect  due  to  him  as  a  soldier  and  gentle. 
man. 

In  closing  his  communication,  Col.  Hayward  would  say,  that 
it  is  his  desire,  if  possible,  to  win  the  love  and  the  attachment 
of  every  individual  member  of  his  command,  so  far  as  he  has 
opportunity  to  do  so,  and  so  far  as  he  can  do  so  in  consistence 
with  Revised  Army  Regulations,  and  the  Rules  and  Articles  of 
War,  to  which  he  specially  directs  the  attention  of  eveiy  officer 
to  whom  this  is  addressed. 

You,  gentlemen,  have  the  eyes  of  the  State  of  New  York — your 
birth  State— upon  you.  I  have  the  eyes  of  Maryland,  my  birth- 


RAILROAD   DUTY.  53 

State — and  of  New  York,  my  adopted  mother  State  since  the 
spring  of  1843 — upon  me.  Thus  I  have  a  double  incentive  to 
the  performance  of  every  duty.  Therefore,  desiring  your  co 
operation,  and  with  a  firm  reliance  upon  Divine  strength  and 
wisdom,  let  us  emulate  each  other  in  gaining  military  know 
ledge,  and  in  personal  prowess  upon  the  field  of  battle. 
Respectfully  yours, 

W.  B.  HAYWARD, 

Colonel  Commanding. 

On  the  19th  of  November,  the  first  death  occurred  in  the 
regiment.  Early  in  the  morning  Henry  W.  Powers,  Drum 
mer  of  Company  "  0,"  died  of  inflammation  of  the  bowels.  He 
had  been  very  sick  for  several  days,  and  his  condition  required 
that  he  should  be  buried  immediately.  Just  at  sunset,  all 
things  being  in  readiness,  we  bore  his  remains  to  the  Metho 
dist  bury  ing-ground  at  Elkridge  Landing,  a  mile  from  camp, 
and  laid  them  to  rest.  The  attendance  at  this  funeral  was 
uncommonly  large,  Company  "  C"  coming  up  in  a  body  from 
their  camp,  and  all  the  officers  and  men  who  were  off  duty  at 
headquarters,  being  present.  It  was  a  new  and  strange  thing 
then.  Alas  !  we  little  thought  how  common  it  would  yet  be 
to  us ! 

On  the  20th,  the  following  circular  was  sent  to  the  com 
pany  commanders.  It  was  originally  prepared,  I  believe,  at 
the  Railroad  Superintendent's  Office,  for  the  instruction  of 
Colonel  Hayward,  and  by  him  put  in  the  form  presented  here. 
The  Colonel  fancied  that  he  had  discovered  a  great  conspiracy 
to  destroy  the  road,  and  one  morning  called  on  Mr.  Smith,  the 
Master  of  Transportation,  before  it  was  fairly  light,  to  make 
a  disclosure  of  his  discoveries  and  suspicions.  He  was  thought 
to  be  a  little  wild  on  the  subject,  but  this  document  is  sup 
posed  to  have  grown  out  of  that  interview  :' 

5* 


54  KAILROAD   DUTY. 

HEADQUARTERS  GOiH  REGIMENT,  N.  Y.  S.  VOLS. 
CAMP  MORGAN,  NEAR  RELAY  HOUSE, 

November  20th,  1861. 

SIR:  In  order  to  more  effectually  carry  out  the  important 
duties  assigned  to  you  with  your  command,  you  will  hereafter 
observe  the  following  points : — 

1st.  All  Bridges  and  Culverts  between  the  Relay  House,  at 
Washington  Junction,  and  the  three  city  stations  of  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  Railroad  Company,  at  Baltimore,  namely:  "Mount 
Clare,"  "  Camden  Street"  and  ''Locust  Point,"  must  be  carefully 
observed,  particularly  between  the  hours  of  sunset  and  sunrise. 
The  most  important  of  these  structures  are,  first,  the  Carrollton 
Viaduct,  or  stone  arch  bridge,  over  Gwinn's  Falls,  at  the  city 
limits,  near  Mount  Clare  and  Locust  Point  Junctions ;  second, 
the  Iron  Truss  Suspension  Bridge,  over  Carey  Street,  Baltimore, 
between  Mount  Clare  Junction  and  Mount  Clare  Station  ;  and 
third,  the  Long  Wooden  Trestling  on  the  Locust  Point  Road, 
near  the  Locust  Point  Station.  Besides  these  principal  struc 
tures,  there  are  numerous  Stone  Culverts  intermediately  at  vari 
ous  intervals,  at  any  of  which  mischief  may  be  done  by  the  uae 
of  powder  or  other  agencies. 

2d.  All  the  Switches,  especially  those  upon  the  Main  Track, 
between  the  city  limits  and  the  Relay  Junction,  should  be  care 
fully  observed,  particularly  from  sunset  to  sunrise.  The  chang 
ing  of  a  switch  leading  from  the  main  track,  may  be  done  silently 
and  unobserved,  unless  prevented  by  the  exercise  of  constant 
vigilance.  Serious  calamities,  particularly  to  troop  trains,  in 
volving  large  loss  of  life  to  the  soldiers  occupying  them,  may 
ensue  from  the  derangement  of  a  single  switch. 

3d.  Another  form  of  malicious  interference  with  the  track,  to 
which  your  attention  is  directed,  is  the  Displacement  of  the  Rails. 
This  may  also  be  committed  by  one  person,  requiring  simply,  in 
some  cases,  the  withdrawal  of  the  spikes  by  which  the  rails  are 
fastened  to  the  sills  or  cross-ties.  This  is  the  more  dangerous, 
because  it  would  be  less  likely  to  be  observed  or  discovered  by 
the  enginemen,  or  others  in  charge  of  the  trains,  until  too  late 
to  avoid  serious  consequences  by  a  run-off  of  the  engine  and  the 
destruction  of  property  and  life  that  might  attend  it.  Upon 
Curved  Places,  or  near  a  Culvert  or  Cattle  Stop,  or  upon  Em- 


RAILROAD   DUTY.  55 

bankments,  this  form  of  interference  with  the  road  would  be 
most  disastrous,  and,  consequently,  most  likely  to  be  attempted. 

.4th.  Another,  and  perhaps  the  readiest  source  of  malicious 
injury  to  the  road — against  which  it  will  be  your  duty  to  guard 
it — is  the  Placing  of  Obstructions  upon  or  between  the  Rails. 
The  placing  of  a  cross-tie,  an  old  rail  or  other  lumber,  or  metal, 
or  stone,  which  may  be  often  found  convenient  to  the  road-side, 
is  readily  calculated  to  throw  off  a  train  and  blockade  the  road, 
with  serious  consequences. 

In  order  to  prevent,  however,  the  possibility  of  any  injury, 
derangement,  or  obstruction  to  the  track,  or  bridges,  or  any  por 
tion  of  the  same  under  your  charge,  it  will  be  best  to  require 
your  sentinels  and  pickets  to  challenge  and  warn  off  all  suspicious 
persons  who  may  attempt  to  occupy,  or  even  walk  along  the 
track.  As  the  road-bed  and  the  tracks  upon  it  are  the  private 
property  of  the  Railroad  Company,  and  not  a  public  highway, 
(except  for  the  trains  operated  by  them,)  no  right  exists  on  the 
part  of  others  to  use  the  road  as  a  highway,  or  to  occupy  it  for 
private  purposes. 

As  a  subject  of  incidental  interest  to  the  Government,  you 
will  direct  your  guard  at  Locust'  Point  and  Mount  Clare,  in 
charge  of  the  bridges  near  those  places,  to  give  attention  to  the 
loaded  cars  that  may. stand  during  the  night  in  their  vicinity. 
The  contents  of  the  greater  number  of  these  cars,  being  the  pro 
perty  of  the  Government  in  transitu,  embracing  much  powder, 
valuable  ammunition,  and  equipments  and  packages  of  every 
description,  it  is  of  course  desirable  that  they  should  not  be  mo 
lested,  in  any  form,  by  wilful  persons. 

In  moving  your  officers  and  men  from  one  position  to  another, 
in  cases  requiring  the  use  of  a  passenger  train,  you  will  see  that 
they  confine  themselves  to  the  Accommodation,  known  as  the 
Ellicott's  Mills  Train.  As  this  passes  over  your  part  of  the  line 
four  times  daily,  in  each  direction,  at  good  intervals,  it  ought  to 
afford  sufficient  facilities  for  your  objects.  It  is  desired  that  you 

will  not  stop  any  other  passenger  trains,  especially  those  to  and 

from  Washington,  at  intermediate  points,  unless  upon  some  very 

urgent  necessity. 

In  the  performance  of  all  these  duties,  you  will  directly,  or 

through  your  officers,  confer  from  time  to  time  with  the  Agents 


56  RAILROAD  DUTY. 

of  the  Railroad  Company  respectively  as  follows :  Mr.  A.  J. 
Fairbank,  Mount  Clare  Station ;  J.  T.  England,  Agent  at  Cam- 
den  Station  ;  J.  D.  McKean,  Agent  at  Locust  Point.  The  officer 
in  charge  of  the  Track,  throughout  your  limits,  is  Mr.  Ft cdorick 
Theimeyer,  Supervisor  of  Road.  The  object  of  such  intercourse 
as  is  here  suggested,  is  simply  that  you  may  avoid  any  interfer 
ence,  upon  the  part  of  your  men,  with  the  prompt  operation  of 
the  road,  and  to  insure  a  mutual  facility  in  furthering  your  ob 
jects,  as  well  as  those  of  the  Railroad  Company. 

WM.  B.  HAYWARD, 
Col.  Commanding  60th  Regiment,  N.  Y.  S.  Vols. 

On  the  27th  we  moved  camp,  for  the  purpose  of  being 
nearer  the  centre  of  our  line,  and  established  headquarters 
near  Jackson's  bridge,  where  Major  Brundage  had  been,  in 
charge  of  the  left  wing,  ever  since  we  came  on  the  road.  Camp 
Rathbone,  was  the  name  Col.  Hayward  gave  it,  in  honor  of 
Brig.  Gen.  Rathbone,  of  Albany.  In  communicating  the 
name  to  me,  that  I  might  inform  the  men  how  to  put  the 
proper  heading  on  the  letters  they  should  send  home,  the 
colonel  was  very  particular  to  spell  it,  to  guard  against  mis 
take.  In  spite  of  his  precautions,  however,  a  letter  was  re 
ceived  'in  a  few  days,  directed  to  Camp  Wrathburn  !  It  made 
some  laugh,  and  considering  the  state  of  feeling  towards  the 
colonel,  was  not  incongruous. 

The  officers  had  expected  that  the  colonel  would  take  further 
notice  of  their  letter,  but  as  he  did  not,  they  sent  the  follow 
ing  to  Col.  Robinson. 

Nov.  23,  1861. 
COLONEL  JOHN  C.  ROBINSON. 

SIR:  On  the  16th  day  of  Nov.  inst.,  the  undersigned  officers  of 
the  60th  Regt.  N.  Y.  S.  V.,  respectfully  addressed  a  letter  to 
Colonel  William  B.  Hayward,  commanding  the  60th  Regt.  N.  Y 
S.  V.  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy. 

To  this  letter  we  have  had  no  reply  unless  a  communication 
addressed  to  the  officers,  in  which  no  allusion  was  made  to  our 


RAILROAD   DUTY.  57 

letter,  might  be  considered  a  reply.  We  have  waited  patiently 
for  Col.  Hayward  to  give  us  an  answer,  at  the  same  time  hoping 
that  a  better  state  of  feeling  might  exist,  and  a  stronger  faith 
in  our  colonel  might  result  from  delay.  This  hope  has  failed  ; 
this  faith  can  accomplish  nothing.  We  have  now  nothing  left  us 
to  do  but  to  complain  to  you  as  our  acting  brigadier,  reaffirming 
all  contained  in  our  letter,  and  adding  that  unless  some  immedi 
ate  action  is  taken  in  this  matter,  our  Regiment  in  which  we 
once  took  so  much  pride,  and  for  which  we  hoped  so  much,  must 
become  completely  disorganized,  and  our  men,  the  best  in  our 
part  of  the  State,  in  whom  we  had  so  much  confidence,  will  be 
come  entirely  worthless  as  soldiers.  " 

We  therefore,  without  preferring  specific  charges  against  Col. 
Hayward,  most  respectfully  ask  you  to  inquire  into  the  condition 
of  our  Regiment,  and  give  us  such  counsel  as  you  may  judge  our 
case  demands.  Yours,  respectfully. 

Soon  after  this  letter  was  sent,  we  were  visited  by  Hon. 
Preston  King  and  General  Patrick,  who  came  to  satisfy  them 
selves  concerning  our  condition.  Not  long  afterwards  Col. 
Robinson  came  into  camp?  and  advised  Col.  Hayward  to  re 
sign.  The  advice  was  not  immediately  followed ;  the  Colonel, 
I  believe,  thinking  that  the  men  would  yet  give  him  their 
confidence  as  before,  and  the  officers  withdraw  their  opposi 
tion.  To  realize  his  hopes  he  spared  no  efforts,  but  exerted 
himself  to  the  utmost  to  procure  everything  necessary  for  the 
command ;  and  giving  his  personal  attention  to  the  drill  of 
the  men,  sought  to  make  everything  move  pleasantly  and  in 
harmony.  It  is  my  opinion  that  he  would  have  succeeded  if 
the  officers  had  not  already  carried  the  matter  so  far ;  but  they 
were  determined  that  he  should  fiot  succeed  j  and  the  men, 
catching  their  spirit,  and  judging  that  the  colonel  was  now 
over-doing  the  amiable,  made  fun  of  his  drill,  and  strengthened 
their  desire  for  a  change. 

On  the  28th,  a  sad  affair  occurred  at  Ellicott's  Mills.  The 
loyal  people  of  that  place  had  organized  a  "home  guard'/ 
One  of  the  members  wanted  to  try  his  skill  at  pushing  bay- 


58  RAILROAD   DUTY. 

onets  with  Simeon  Fishbeck,  of  Company  "  B."  Getting  tircO 
of  this,  he,  in  a  playful  manner,  snapped  his  unloaded  gun  at 
Fishbeck  ]  who,  thinking  his  gun  also  unloaded,  snapped  it 
in  return,  when,  it  proving  to  be  loaded,  he  discharged  its  con 
tents  through  Knight  just  below  his  collar-bone.  He  sur 
vived  till  the  next  day.  The  following  order  was  issued,  and 
the  annexed  report  subsequently  made 

HEADQUARTERS  GOxn  RECT.  N.  Y..  S.  VOLS.,') 
CAMP  RATHBONE,  Dec.  4,  1861.      j 
ORDERS  No.  36. 

A  Court  of  Inquiry,  to  consist  of 

Capt  Hyde,  Company  "  E," 
Lieut.  White,  Company  "  H," 
Lieut.  Shedd,  Company  "  I," 

will  proceed  by  the  earliest  train  to-morrow  to  Ellicott's  Mills, 
and  fully,  carefully,  and  deliberately  investigate  the  manner  and 
cause  of  -the  death  of  Private  William  Knight,  of  the  Patapsco 
Guard,  said  to  have  been  caused  at  the  hands  of  one  of  the  pri 
vates  of  Company  "  B,"  of  the  Sixtieth  Regiment  N.  Y.  S.  Vols. 
They  will  call  and  examine  witnesses,  and  will  report  all  the 
facts,  and. circumstances,  and  testimonies  minui^ly  in  writing  to 
these  headquarters,  and  give  the  opinion  of  the  Court  in  the  case. 
By  order  of 

WILLIAM  B.  HAYWARD, 

Colonel  Commanding. 
R.  C.  GALE,  Adjutant. 

ELLICOTT'S  MILLS,  Md.,  Dec.  5,  1861. 

The  necessities  of  the  public  service  demanded  the  postpone 
ment  of  the  above  inquiry  until  the  present  date,  and  the  Court 
assembled  at  this  place  at  three  o'clock  P.M. 

The  following  order  was  then  read  : 

HEADQUARTERS  60m  REGT.  N.  Y.  S.  YOLS., 
CAMP  RATHBONE,  NEAR  BALTIMORE, 

December  6,  1861 
SPECIAL  ORDER  No.  10. 

The  Court  of  Inquiry,  of  which  Capt.  W.  II.  Hyde,  of  Com- 
p$ny  "  E,"  this  regiment,  is  President,  having  been  prevented  by 


:i 


RAILROAD   DUTY.  59 

other  official  business  from  convening  at  Ellicott's  Mills  yester 
day,  will  assemble  there  at  three  o'clock  this  day,  and  will  con 
tinue  their  sessions  as  long  after  three  o'clock  as  the  importance 
of  the  case  and  the  exigencies  of  the.  case  may  require. 

_          By  order  of 

WILLIAM  B.  HAYWARD, 

Colonel  60th  Regt.  N.  Y.  S.  V. 

The  Court  met  pursuant  to  the  above  order. 

PRESENT. 

Capt.  W.  H.  Hyde,  Company  "  E," 
Lient.  L.  E.  White,  Company  "  II," 
Lieut.  L.  M.  Shedd,  Company  "I." 

PROCEEDINGS. 

The  Recorder  administered  the  oath  to  the  other  members  of 
the  Court,  and  the  President  administered  the  oath  to  the 
Recorder,  after  which  the  evidence  was  taken. 

STATEMENT  OF  THE  ACCUSED, 

SIMEON    FIS"EBECK. 

On  the  morning  of  November  27,  I  was  doing  duty  as  guard 
at  Ellicott's  Mills.  I  went  on  from  5  to  8  on  the  evening  of  the 
26th.  I  procured  a  man  to  go  on  for  me  from  12  to  2.  When  I 
came  off  at  8,  I  put  niy  gun  in  the  corner  so  that  I  should  know 
where  to  find  it.  The  gun  was  not  loaded,  as  I  kad  no  order  to 
load,  and  no  ammunition  to  load  it  with.  I  went  on  at  5  o'clock 
on  the  morning  of  the  27th.  I  went  to  the  corner  where  I  put 
my  gun.  It  was  dark  in  the  room.  I  reached  for  my  gun,  but 
did  not  notice  particularly  if  it  was  my  own  gun;  there  were 
two  or  three  guns  in  the  corner.  I  went  out  and  relieved  the 
sentry  on  the  bridge.  About  8  o'clock  I  saw  one  of  the  Patapsco 
Guards  coming  toward  me  on  double  quick.  He  stopped  about 
eight  feet  from  me,  and  charged  bayonets  on  a  small  boy.  A 
number  of  citizens  stood  about.  The  man  stepped  up  to  me  and 
said,  "  Let's  show  them  how  to  charge  bayonets."  We  placed 
the  muzzles  of  our  guns  to  each  other's  breasts,  and  pushed  each 


60  RAILROAD   DUTY. 

other  with  our  guns.  He  cocked  his  gun,  and  I  did  the  same. 
We  both  snapped  guns.  The  gun  I  had  went  off.  He  fell  on  his 
right  knee,  and  held  his  gun  in  his  left  hand.  I  dropped  my 
gun  and  stepped  forward  to  support  him.  He  said,  "  You  have 
shot  me,  but  it  was  an  accident."  I  told  him,  "I  guess  not; 
try  and  get  up."  '  lie  said,  "Carry  me  to  some  corner,  and  lay 
me  down  to  die."  A  man  came  up,  and  we  took  him  to  the 
quarters  of  Company  "B,"  Sixtieth  Regiment  N.  Y.  S.  V.  lie 
afterward  said  to  me,  "  It  was  an  accident."  It  was  entirely 
accidental  on  my  part.  I  supposed  that  I  had  my  own  gun. 
I  knew  that  my  gun  was  not  loaded. 

All  the  evidence  tended  to  corroborate  the  above  statement. 
The  statement  of  the  accused  having  closed,  the  President  ordered 
the  Court  to  be  cleared,  and  the  proceedings  were  then  read  to 
the  Court  by  the  Recorder. 

FINDINGS  or  THE  COURT. 

The  Court,  after  mature  deliberation  on  the  testimony  ad 
duced,  respectfully  report: 

That  Private  William  II.  Knight,  of  the  Independent  Patapsoo 
Guard,  came  to  his  death  at  Ellicott's  Mills,  Md.,  by  a  gua&hob 
wound  at  the  hands  of  Private  Simeon  Fish^eck,  of  Coi»pany 
"  B,"  Sixtieth  Regiment  New  York  State  Volunteers 

The  opinion  of  the  Court  having  been  ordered,  the  following 
is  their  opinion  in  the  case  : 

That  the  shooting  of  Private  William  H.  Knight  by  Private 
Simeon  Fishbeck  was  unintentional  on  the  part  of  the  accineed. 

Capt.  WILLIAM  H.  HYDE,  President. 
Lieut.  LYMAN  M.  SHEDD,  Recorder. 


While  we  were  at  this  camp  an  incident  occurred  which 
made  a  great  deal  of  merriment  at  the  time,  and  at  the  re 
membrance  and  the  recital  of  it,  many  a  hearty  laugh  has 
been  had  since.  Colonel  Hayward  brought  with  him  from 
New  York,  a  negro  Darned  Philip  Lee,  who,  in  his  way,  was 
quite  a  genius,  especially  well  skilled  in  getting  up  good 


RAILROAD   DUTY.  61 

things  in  the  culinary  line.  Philip  had  occasion  one  morning, 
while  preparing  his  master's  breakfast,  to  go  outside  the  lines 
for  a  pail  of  water.  The  guards  were  instructed  to  pass  no 
one  out  unless  they  had  a  written  pass,  and  poor  'Philip  soon 
found  an  obstruction.  He  remonstrated  a  long  time,  but  the 
guard  was  inexorable,  and  Philip  could  not  get  away  till,  after 
a  long  time,  the  officer  of  the  guard  came  round  and  passed 
him  out.  Meanwhile  the  Colonel  had  got  up,  had  several 
times  called  loudly  for  Philip,  but  received  no  answer.  I 
happened  to  come  out  of  my  tent  just  as  the  negro  recrossed 
the  lines  on  his  return  with  the  water.  Waiting  till  he  got 
in  speaking  distance,  I  told  him  to  hurry  up,  for  the  Colonel 
had  called  him  several  times  and  was  getting  impatient.  "  See 
here,  Cap'n  Eddy,"  said  Philip,  "  he  ken  holler  jes'  as  much 
as  him  please !  He  tink  one  man's  goin'  to  do  tree  or  four 
men's  work !  'Sides  he  dun  gone  an'  made  a  requisition  on 
de  guard,  and  how's  I  goin'  to  get  out  to  get  de  water !" 

A  '*  requisition  on  de  guard"  was  the  apology  for  many  a 
delinquency  thereafter ! 

I  commenced  service  as  Postmaster  of  the  regiment  on  the 
llth  of  November,  and  kept  account  of  all  the  letters  mailed 
by  me  during  the  month.  They  amounted  to  1533,  from 
about  one-half  of  the  command ;  the  other  half,  being  near 
established  post  offices,  mailed  their's  direct,  and  sent  perhaps 
quite  as.  many  more.  Letters  from  home  did  not  come  in  such 
large  quantities.  Something  was  wrong,  and  to  see  what  it 
was,  I  went  to  the  General  Post  Office  at  Washington,  on  the 
second  of  December.  There  I  found  too  many  to  count,  but, 
in  quantity,  about  two  bushels  ! 

On  the  5th  of  December,  we  had  our  first  visit  from  the 
Paymaster,  Major  Smith,  who  paid  us  up  to  November  1st. 
Some  of  the  companies  received  but  little,  and  none  of  them 
had  two  full  months'  pay ;  but,  out  of  the  amount  received, 
the  following  sums  were  sent  home.  From  Field  and  Staff 
Officers,  $550  ;  from  Company  "A,"  $1,324 ;  Company  «  B," 
6 


62  RAILROAD    DUTY. 

$840;  Company  « C,"  $700;  Company  « D,"  $1,243.23; 
Company  «  E,"  $1,106.92  ;  Company  "  F,"  $295  ;  Company 
"G,"  $375.25;  Company  «  H,"  $556;  Company  "I,"  $593; 
Company  "  K,"  $853.95.  Making  a  total  of  eight  thousand 
five  hundred  and  three  dollars,  and  sixty-two  cents. 

•  On  the  10th,  we  moved  camp  again.  The  ground  we  were 
on  was  wet  and  springy,  so  we  crossed  the  railroad,  and  als6 
the  Washington  Turnpike,  and  pitched  camp  on  a  hillside 
fronting  Patapsco  Bay,  and  the  principal  portion  of  the  city 
of  Baltimore.  The  name  of  the  former  camp  was  retained. 
At  the  foot  of  the  hill  was  a  small  pond  used  as  an  ice-field 
by  the  Susquehanna  Ice  Company,  but  from  which  they 
gathered  no  ice  that  winter.  Just  across  the  inlet  of  this 
pond  was  a  large  brick  building,  then  unused,  but  previously- 
occupied  as  a  distillery.  A  story  was  in  circulation,  and 
generally  believed,  I  think,  in  camp,  that  a  military  prison 
had  formerly  been  erected  by  the  British  on  the  site  of  this 
building,  and  that  in  digging  to  lay  the  foundation  of  this 
distillery,  hand-cuffs  and  other  manacles  had  been  found 
among  the  former  ruins.  I  have  recently  had  some  curiosity 
to  inquire  into  the  matter,  and  am  well  convinced  that  the 
story  was  not  true. 

On  the  llth  we  had  the  second  death  in  the  regiment. 
Henry  W.  Dunn,  of  Co.  "  C  "  died  of  typhoid  fever,  at  Capt. 
Redington's  quarters  in  the  city.  His  body  was  sent  home 
for  burial.  Capt.  Eedington's  proceedings  in  the  matter,  he 
having  made  all  necessary  arrangements  without  consulting 
Col.  Hayward,  gave  great  offence  to  the  latter,  and  incited 
him  to  arrest  the  captain  for  alleged  disobedience  of  orders  in 
permitting  his  guard  to  leave  their  posts,  for  a  short  time,  on 
Thanksgiving  Day,  for  the  purpose  of  dining  at  the  captain's 
quarters.  At  the  same  time  Co.  "  C  "  was  relieved  by  Co. 
"  H"  from  duty  at  Camden  Station,  and  sent  up  to  the  Four 
Mile  Station,  distant  that  far  from  the  city.  On  pitching 
camp,  the  captain,  desirous  of  expressing  his  opinion  of  the 


RAILROAD    DUTY.  63 

move,  named  the  place  Camp  Fidgety !  The  colonel  soon 
ordered  the  name  changed  to  Camp  Hobart.  In  retaliation 
for  his  arrest  Capt.  Redington  preferred  charges  against  the 
colonel  for  drawing  a  pistol  on  one  of  the  guard.  The  colonel 
sent  the  charges,  as  in"  duty  bound,  to  his  acting  brigadier, 
but  accompanied  them  with  a  letter,  explaining  that  what  he 
did  as  charged,  was  done  while  instructing  the  guard,  w-howas 
careless  on  his  post,  and  by  way,  simply,  of  showing  him  how 
easily  he  might  be  surprised.  Col.  Robinson  read  the  charges, 
but  took  no  further  notice  of  them. 

Captain  Redington's  sword  was  shortly  after  restored  to  him, 
and  he  was  ordered  to  duty. 

On  the  night  of  the  llth,  between  11  and  12  o'clock,  our 
camp  was  alarmed  by  a  terrible  explosion,  evidently  quite 
near,  followed  by  a  whistling  noise  in  the  air,  much  resembling 
that  caused  by  the  passage  of  a  bomb,  which  Col.  Hayward 
felt  quite  confident  it  was'.  A  corporal  in  charge  of  a  relief 
guard  was  going  the  rounds  with  his  squad,  when  the  strange 
noise-maker  fell  on  their  path,  and  only  about  three  feet  in 
their  rear.  They  also  thinking  it  a  bomb,  got  out  of  the  way 
in  a  "  double  quick."  No  explosion  following,  the  corporal 
reported  that  something  had  fallen  near  him,  and  was  sent  by 
the  colonel  to  ascertain  what  it  was.  He  returned  bringing  a 
piece  of  locomotive  boiler-flue  about  three  feet  long,  and 
weighing  ten  or  fifteen  pounds.  As  it  was  still  very  hot,  we 
of  course  concluded  that  the  explosion  took  place  not  far  from 
us,  and  at  once  as  many  as  were  up  went  down  to  the  track, 
about  a  hundred  yards  from  camp.  While  going  down  the 
side  of  the  deep  cut  through  which  the  road  here  passes,  I  came 
upon  the  body  of  a  man,  horribly  mutilated,  his  'countenance 
so  disfigured  as  to  have  but  little  of  a  human  appearance  re 
maining.  He  had  evidently  been  blown  into  the  air,  and  to 
such  an  elevation  that  coming  down  feet  first,  both  legs  were 
driven  into  the  mud  to  some  distance  above  his  knees.  The 
man  had  on  a  soldier's  uniform,  But  we  never  learned  what 


64  RAILROAD    DUTY. 

regiment  or  State  lie  belonged  to.  The  locomotive,  one  of  the 
kind  called  "  camel  back/'  lay  upon"  the  side  of  the  track,  a 
wreck.  Fragments  of  it  were  strewn  in  every  direction,  some 
to  the  distance  of  four  hundred  feet.  The  engineer  was  found 
two  hundred  and  sixty-four  feet  from  the  track,  having  been 
thrown,  before  striking  the  ground,  through  the  top  of  a  large 
tree,  breaking  off  in  his  passage  limbs  of  the  tree  three  inches 
in  diameter.  The  dome  of  the  engine,  weighing  at  least  eight 
hundred  lbs.?  was  found  twenty-five  feet  beyond  the  engineer. 
The  fireman  remained  at  the  tender,  but  was  so  badly  scalded 
that  he  survived  but  a  few  hours.  Capt.  Ransom  was  staffd- 
ing  with  one  foot  on  the  step  of  the  engine,  having  got  on 
only  a  few  moments  before  for  the  purpose  of  riding  down  a 
mile  or  more  to  visit  his  guard.  He  was  thrown  on  the  side 
of  the  track,  but  received  no  injury.  A  most  surprising 
escape ! 

The  following  letter  was  received  a  few  days  after  its  date, 
and  in  a  short  time  the  boxes  came  to  hand.  They  contained 
more  than  enough  for  Company  "A,"  and  their  contents  were 
shared  by  many  others. 

CANTON,  December  llth,  1861. 
To  REV.  R.  EDDY, 

Chaplain  of  the-  60th  Regiment  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers : 
DEAR  SIR:  We  send  you  by  railroad,  this  day,  two  boxes  of 
clothing,  for  the  comfort  of  the  soldiers  of  the  60th  Regiment. 
You  will  find  a  list  of  the  articles  contained  in  them  underneath 
the  cover  of  each  box.  Many  of  the  packages  are  directed  par 
ticularly  to  friends.  You  will,  of  course,  see  that  they  are  dis 
tributed  to  the  rightful  owners.  The  rest  we  leave  to  your  own 
good  judgment  to  distribute  as  you  shall  see  fit.  Ourgireference 
is  with  Company  "  A,"  as  far  as  they  are  in  need.  We  hope 
they  will  be  pleased  with  the  mittens.  You  will  find  a  small 
quantity  of  hospital  clothing  in  the  square  box.  If  what  we 
have  sent,  can  add  to  the  comfort  of  even  a  few  of  the  soldiers, 


RAILROAD  DUTY.  65 

we  shall  feel   amply  compensated.     We  think  of  you  all,  and 
pray  for  your  success. 

In  behalf  of  the  Ladies'  Volunteer  Aid  Society,  of  Canton, 

Yours,  very  truly, 

,  ELVIRA  L.  GOODRICII, 

,  Secretary. 

About  this  time  we  began  to  have  a  great  deal  of  sicjoiess. 
On  the  6th,  we  had  30  sick,  and  on  the  22d,  the  number  had 
increased  to  160  5  at  least  two-thirds  of  the  number  were 
measle  cases.  Two  brick  dwellings,  near  the  camp,  were 
rented  for  hospital  purposes,  which,  as  also  our  large  hospital 
tents,  were  soon  filled  up.  Several  of  the  kind  and  liberal 
ladies  of  Baltimore  found  out  our.  condition,  and  paid  us  fre 
quent  visits,  bringing  delicacies  and  comforts  for  our  sick. 
Mrs.  S.  "W.  Kuster,  now  the  matron  of  the  Jarvis  Hospital,  in 
Baltimore,  was  one  of  the  number ;  her  interest  in  our  welfare 
prompting  her  to  constant  efforts  for  our  good.  Her  care  did 
not  cease  with  the  abatement  of  the  sickness,  but  was  con 
stantly  manifest  in. some  tender  manner  during  the  whole  of 
our  stay  in  the  neighborhood  of  Baltimore.  If  any  of  our 
sick  were  sent  to  the  general  hospitals  in  the  city,  as  it  became 
necessary  many  should  be,  her  cheerful  face  was  soon  seen 
among  them,  and  her  heart  and  hands  ministered  to  their 
wants.  She  became  especially  attached  to  the  members  of 
the  Band,  and  her  house  was  their  home,  where  she  taught 
them  to  call  her  Mother,  and  they  cheerfully  and  gladly 
obeyed  !  After  the  regiment  went  into  more  dangerous  ser 
vice  her  solicitude  followed  it,  and  when  any  of  our  sick  were 
within  her  reach  she  spared  no  pains  to  find  them  out,  and,  if 
possible,  alleviate  their  condition.  That  one  is  a  member  of 
the  Sixtieth  New  York,  will  always  make  them,  welcome  under 
her  roof,  and  insure  the  kindest  care  if  they  are  in  sickness  or^ 
trouble.  All  honor  to  her  as-  a  true  and  noble  woman  ! 

On  the  17th,  Aaron  Geer,  of  Company  "D,"  died  at  Regi 
mental    Hospital,    of  typhoid    fever.     On    the    18th;  James 
6* 


66  RAILROAD   DUTY. 

Kavanagh,  of  the  same  Company,  died  in  the  hospital  tent,  of 
congestion  of  the  brain  and  lungs,  following  measles.  Both 
were  buried  at  Loudon  Park  Cemetery,  near  Baltimore.  On 
the  10th,  Samuel  P.  Melvin,  of  Company  "  E,"  died  of  con 
gestion,  following  measles ;  and  on  the*  20th,  Mortiinore  Ste 
vens,  of  Company  "  F,"  died  from  the  same  cause ;  both  at 
Regimental  Hospital.  On  the  22d,  Hugh  Adrian,  of  Com 
pany  "  F,"  died  at  National  Hotel  Hospital,  in  Baltimore,  of 
typhoid  fever.  The  remains  of  these  last  three  were  sent  to 
their  respective  homes  for  burial.  On  the*  31st,  Holley  E. 
Meacham,  of  Company  "  K,"  died  at  Regimental  Hospital, 
of  bronchitis.  He  was  buried  at  Loudon  Park  Cemetery. 
Young  Meacham  had  been  in  the  hospital  tent  several  days 
before  his  condition  was  considered  critical;  and  after  his 
removal  to  the  building,  it  was  thought  that  even  if  he  did 
not  recover,  he  would  linger  along  several  weeks.  Great  was 
the  surprise  of  the  attendants,  therefore,  to  notice,  on  the 
second  morning  after  his  removal,  that  he  was  evidently  dying. 
He  was  conscious  of  the  change  that  was  coming,  and  desired 
tha't  I  should  be  sent  for;  but  as  I  had  gone  up  the  line  to 
distribute  mail,  and  could  not  be  reached  in  season,  one  of  the 
nurses  performed  such  religious  services  as  were  desired, 
greatly  to  the  comfort  of  the  dying  man,  who  breathed  his 
last  just  as  I  entered  the  room. 

I  mailed  this  month,  for  the  five  companies  at  headquarters, 
4917  letters. 

As  December  closed  with  a  death,  so  January  and  the  new 
year  dawned  upon  us  with  another.  Lewis  Duprey,  of  Com 
pany  "  A,"  had  been  down  with  the  measles  a  day  or  two  only, 
and  was  supposed,  at  10  o'clock  on  the  night  of  December 
31st,  to  be  doing  remarkably  well.  Some  two  hours  after, 
one  of  the  sick  in  the  room  with  him  noticed  a  peculiarity  in 
his  breathing,  and,  on  attempting  to  rouse  him,  found  that 
congestion  had  so  far  set  in,  that  he  was  already  beyond 
medical  aid.  He  died  before  the  first  hour  of  the  new  year 


RAILROAD   DUTY.  67 

had  closed.     He  was  buried  at  Loudon  Park  Cemetery,  as 
also  was  Mcacham. 

On  the  1st,  Col.  Hay  ward  wrote  and  forwarded  a  letter,  of 
which  he  gave  me  the  following  copy: 


HEADQUARTERS  G()TH  REGT.  N.  Y.  S.  YOLS., 
CAMP  RATHBONE,  NEAR  BALTIMORE, 

January  1st,  1802. 
Colonel  JOHN  C.  RAsiNsoy, 

Comd'g  Railway  Brigade,  Annapolis  Junction. 

SIR  :  Considerations  of  a  private  nature  influence  me  to  ten 
der  through  you,  to  His  Excellency  E.  D.  Morgan,  Governor  of 
the  State  of  New  York;  to  Major-General  George  B.  McClellan, 
Commanding  Army  of  the  Potomac  ;  or  to  the  Adjutant-General 
U.  S.  Army,  my  resignation  of  the  commission  of  Colonel  of  the 
Sixtieth  Regiment  New  York  State  Volunteers. 

From  the  date  of  the  commission  until  the  present  moment,  I 
have  the  innate  consciousness  of  having  faithfully  obeyed  every 
superior  order,  and  of  having  conformed,  in  spirit  and  letter,  to 
Revised  Army  Regulations,  and  to  the  Articles  of  War. 

The  love  of  country  beats  as  warmly  in  my  heart  now  as  when 
a  young  Second  Lieutenant  in  the  U.  S.  Army,  and  as  when, 
having  declined  the  Colonelcy  of  another  Regiment  from  con 
scientious  motives,  I  sacrificed  private  and  pecuniary  considera 
tions  to  accept  this  position. 

Need  I  therefore  say  that  when  my  services  are  demanded  by 
my  country  in  any  exigency,  I  shall  be  ready  to  make  any  sacri 
fice  for  that  sake. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  much  respect, 
Your  most  obedient  servant, 

AY.  B.  HAYWARD, 

Colonel  60th  Regiment  N.  Y.  S.  Vols. 

On  the  same  day  I  made  the  following  report: 


"68  RAILROAD   DUTY. 

HEADQUARTERS  "60th  Regt.  N.  Y.  S.  V. 

CAMP  HATIIBONE,  near  BALTIMORE,  Md. 

January  1st.,  10G2. 
To  Col.  WM.  B.  HAVWAUP, 

Commanding  GOth  Regiment  New  York  State  Volunteers. 

MY  DEAR  SIR  :  It  is  set  forth  in  the  Act  of  Congress  of  July 
22d,  1SG1,  that  the  Regimental  Chaplain  shall  be  required  to 
report  to  the  colonel  commanding  the  regiment  to  which  he  is 
attached,  at  the  end  of  each  quarter,  the  moral  and  religious  con 
dition  of  the  regiment,  and  such  suggestiots  as  may  conduce  to 
the  social  happiness  and  moral  improvement  of  the  troops. 

Having  a  desire  to  comply  with  this  requirement,  I  offer  you 
the  following  brief  statements  and  considerations: 

1st.  I  cannot  speak  from  actual  knowledge  of  even  the  appa 
rent  moral  and  religious  condition  of  any  considerable  number 
of  the  regiment.  Our  guard  duty  has  so  isolated  the  companies 
from  each  other,  and  placed  them  at  such  various  distances  from 
headquarters,  as  to  render  it  wholly  impossible  for  me  to  inti 
mately  know  the  condition  of  many. 

2d.  For  the  same  reason  as  at  first  given  it  has  been  deemed 
impracticable  to  attempt  even  to  devise  any  general  plan  of  social 
intercourse,  or  of  moral  and  religious  culture.  We  have  been 
wanting  also  in  the  convenience  of  room  for  the  trial  of  any  ex 
periment  based  on  associated  action,  such  as  Conference  or  Prayer 
Meetings,  Singing  School  or  other  social  gatherings. 

3d.  Notwithstanding  the  difficulties  in  the  way — and  some  of 
them  wholly  beyond  our  control — I  have  some  data  from  which 
to  deduce  one  or  two  quite  apparent  facts,  the  mention  of  which 
may  in  some  degree  discharge  the  legal  duty  incumbent  upon 
me.  At  one  time  since  our  entering  this  campaign,  the  sin  of 
profanity  was  evidently  on  the  increase,  so  much  that  I  had  de 
termined  on  calling  your  attention  to  the  necessity  of  enforcing 
the  penalties  laid  down  in  the  Articles  of  War  against  this  most 
inexcusable  crime.  But  I  am  happy  to  say  that  there  is  good 
reason  to  believe  that  a  change  for  the  better  has  been  attempted 
within  a  few  days.  Good  advice  and  friendly  persuasion  have 
availed  with  some,  a  change  in  the  example  of  superiors  has  in 
fluenced  others,  while  not  a  few,  it  is  to  bo  hoped,  from  reasons 
of  love  to  God,  and  a  desire  to  do  I15;>  will  by  putting  to  nc.bla 
uses  the  manhood  lie  has  given  them,  have  been  induced  to  at- 


RAILROAD    DUTY.  69 

tempt  to  redeem  themselves  from  this  sinful  habit.  Appearances 
indicate  that  the  attempt  is  in  a  good  measure  successful.  I 
trust  that  it  will  be  continued. 

While,  therefore,  I  have  in  noway  changed  my  opinion  of  the 
justice  or  propriety  of  the  manner  in  which  this  sin  is  treated 
by  the  Articles  of  War,  I  have  not  felt  that  it  was  my  duty  to 
make  a  formal  request  or  suggestion  for  the  strict  enforcement 
of  the  articles.  Profanity  is  a  habit  more  difficult  to  break  away 
from  than  any  other  to  the  workings  of  which  I  have  given  any  at 
tention.  Between  thinking  and  acting  there  is  often  greater  op 
portunity  for  the  sober  second  thought,  than  there  is  between 
thinking  and  speaking.  Hence  it  is  more  difficult  to  overcome 
the  habit  of  evil  speech  than  to  overcome  the  habit  of  evil  ac 
tion.  Hence,  too,  the  greater  demand  for  patience  and  forbear 
ance  with  those  who  sometimes  stumble  and  fall,  however  honest 
their  efforts  to  put  a  guard  over  their  lips. 

4th.  There  is  no  inconsiderable  amount  of  religious  thought 
and  feeling  among  the  men  under  your  command,  and  I  have 
yet  to  be  informed  of  the  first  attempt  to  ridicule  religious  doc 
trines,  or  make  light  of,  or  place  barriers  in  the  way  of  any  religi 
ous  exercises.  The  attendance  on  Divine  Service  on  the  Sabbath, 
is,  all  things  considered,  as  large  as  could  be  expected.  The  de 
portment  and  attention  is  praiseworthy  and  commendable. 

In  conclusion,  I  have  no  special  suggestion  to  offer.  If,  on 
our  going  into  barracks,  an  opening  for  social,  moral  or  religious 
improvement  by  means  of  meetings  or  other  associated  effort, 
shall  seem  to  offer,  I  am  confident  from  your  often  manifest  sym 
pathy  and  co-operation  that  I  may  at  the  time  expect  you  to  ap 
prove  whatever  may  commend  itself  •  as  being  wise  and  desirable. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
KICIIARD  EDDY,  Chaplain  60th  N.  Y.  S.  V. 


A  singular  epidemic,  or  monomania,  prevailed  in  the  Kegi- 
ment  during  this  and  the  preceding  month,  with  occasional 
manifestations  thereafter.  It  always  happened  while  the 
men  were  on  guard,  and  consisted  in  the  soldiers  carrying 
their  rifles  in  such  a  way  as  to  shoot  off  their  own  thumbs 


70  RAILROAD   DUTY. 

and  fingers..  Six  or  eight  of  the  men  were  affected  by  it.  It 
would,  of  course,  be  unfair  to  say  that  the  occurrences  were 
not  purely  accidental  •  but  it  may  remotely  insinuate  some 
thing  to  remark  that,  after  it  was  ascertained  that  the  loss 
of  fingers  in  that  way  would  not  entitle  one  to  an  honorable 
discharge  from  the  army,  the  practice  fell  into  disuse. 

On  the  3d,  we  got  the  first  snow  of  the  season.  It  re 
mained  on  the  ground  but  a  few  hours,  and  was  followed  by 
such  a  profusion  of  rain,  frost  and  thaw,  as  made  the  mud 
knee-deep  at  Camp  Eathbone  during  the  rest  of  our  stay  there. 
It  was  a  very  disagreeable  place ;  but  the  erection  of  barracks 
having  been  commenced  on  the  1st,  we  patiently  waited  their 
completion.  Patience  was  severely  tried,  for  the  elements 
contended  against  the  workmen ;  and  when  one  of  the  build 
ings  was  all  raised,  and  partly  completed,  the  winds  attacked 
it  one  night,  and  upset  everything.  The  boys  got  together 
in  the  morning,  and  exclaiming,  among  other  things,  as  they 
stood  there  in  the  storm,  "  Oh !  what  a  fall  is  there,  my 
countrymen  !"  followed  the  example  of  llobert  Bruce's  spider, 
and  tried  it  again  ! 

I  find,  by  reference  to  my  diary,  that  I  ascertained  on  my 
visit  to  the  sick,  on  Sunday,  the  5th,  that  there  were  no  new 
cases  of  measles,  and  that  the  sick  were  all  improving.  Hap 
pily  this  continued  to  be  true. 

On  the  night  of  the  &th,  Edwin  H.  Porter,  of  Company 
t(  II,"  came  to  his  death  in  a  shocking  manner.  lie  was  on 
duty  between  Bailey's  Crossing  and  Camden  Station,  when, 
getting  careless,  he  ,sat  down  on  the  tract  and  fell  asleep.  A 
freight  train  coming  in,  he  was  not  discovered  by  the  engineer 
in  season  to  stop  the  train  till  the  engine  and  five  cars  had 
passed  over  him.  His  body  was  horribly  cut  and  mangled. 
A  coroner's  inquest  was  held,  and  a  verdict  of  "  accidental 
death''  rendered,  which  exonerated  the  employees  of  the  road 
from  all  blame.  We  buried  him  at  London  Park  Cemetery. 

Our   religious  service  on  Sunday,  the  12th,  was  preceded 


RAILROAD   DUTY.  71 

by  a  dress  parade,  at  which  the  following  was,  read  by. Adju 
tant  Gale,  by  order  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Goodrich  : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC, 

WASHINGTON-,  January  8th,  1862. 

SPECIAL  ORDERS.     No.  8. 
*  *  *  *    .  *  * 

4  2.  The  following  named  officers  having  tendered  their  resigna 
tions,  are  honorably  discharged  from  the  military  service  of  the 
United  States.  *  *  *  ' .+.  '  * 

*      Colonel  Wm.  B.  Ilayward,  60th  New  York  Volunteers. 
By. command  of  Major-General  McClellan. 

S.  WILLIAMS, 
Assistant  Adjutant-General. 
Official. 

E.  D.  JUDD, 

Act.  Asst.  Adj't-General, 

Railway  Brigade. 

The  Colonel  was  not  present  at  the  time  this  order  was  re 
ceived,  nor  when  it  was  read.  He  came  on  the  ground  shortly 
after,  and  was  very  indignant,  justly  so,  I  think,  that  it  had 
been  promulgated  in  his  absence,  as  it  cut  him  off  from  all 
opportunity  to  enter  upon  the  regimental  records  such  remarks, 
in  an  additional  Order,  as  would  have  been  gratifying  to  him, 
in  explaining  his  position,  and  have  enabled  him  to  take  a 
formal  leave  of  the  command.  As  he  was  a  civilian  from  the 
moment  of  the  promulgation  of  the  Order,  he  had  no  special 
rights  in  the  camp ;  so,  silently  packing  up  his  things,  he  left 
us  on  Monday,  unnecessarily  humiliated  and  mortified. 

On  the  evening  of  the  1-lth,  the  officers  held  a  meeting  and 
expressed  a  unanimous  desire  for  the  promotion  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Goodrich  to  the  Colonelcy.  A  petition  to  this  effect, 
signed  by  all  holding  commissions,  was  forwarded  to  Governor 
Morgan  the  next  day. 

On  the  21st,  Paymaster  A.  Y.  Elliott  brought  us  our  pay 
for  the  months  of  November  and.  December.  Of  the  sum 
paid,  the  following  amounts  were  sent  home  :  By  the  Field 


72  RAILROAD    DUTY 

and  Staff  Officers,  $1,449;  members  of  the  Band,  $651.60 . 
Company  "A,"  $1,763;  Company  «  B,"  81/200;  Company 
"0,"  81,000;  Company  «D,"  $1,777;  Company  «E,"  $1,579; 
Company  «  F,"  $1,000 ;  Company. "  G,"  $1,434.30  ;  Company 
"H,"  $1,435;  Company  "I,"  $1,587.25;  Company  "  K," 
$1,630.  Total,  sixteen  thousand  five  hundred  and  six  dollars 
and  fifteen  cents. 

As  we  now  take  leave  of  Colonel  W.  B.  Ilayward,  I  wish 
to  record,  in  justice  to  him,  that  after  I  reported  to  the  regi 
ment  for  duty,  he  invariably  treated  me  with  great  courtesy 
and  kindness.  Aiding  me  in  every  way  in  his  power  by 
effectively  seconding  all  my  plans,  he  was  so  jealous  of  my 
rights  that,  though  disagreeing  with  me  in  sentiment;  and,-  of 
course,  at  perfect  liberty  to  go  where  he  pleased  on  Sunday, 
he  almost  uniformly  attended  religious  service  at  camp ;  and 
receiving,  as  he  did  from  time  to  time,  large  quantities  of 
religious  reading  for  the  use  of  the  men,  he  placed  it  all  at 
my  disposal,  and  was  solicitous  that  I  should,  after  examina 
tion,  throw  aside  such  as,  in  my  opinion,  would  be  unprofita 
ble.  With  his  approbation,  I  rejected  everything  aimed 
against  Roman  Catholics,  and  against  my  own  or  any  other 
Protestant  denomination.  Of  his  sincerity,  I  entertain  no 
doubt,  and  have  as  little  disposition  to  believe  that  he  tried  to 
do  more  or  less  than  what  he  thought  was  his  duty  in  what 
ever  he  attempted  for  the  regiment. 


LIFE   IN   BARRACKS,  73 


IV. 
LIFE  IN  BARRACKS. 

ON  the  22d  of  January,  the  barracks  were  sufficiently  near 
completion  to  justify  our  moving  in,  especially  as  we  were 
very  uncomfortable  in  tents.  The  new  quarters  had  been 
erected  near  the  first  location  of  Camp  Rathbone.  The  build 
ings  occupied  three  sides  of  a  square.  The  base,  or  officers' 
quarters,  was  210  by  24  feet.  The  wings,  or  men's  quarters, 
were  each  180  by  24  feet.  At  a  short  distance  before  coming 
to  the  camp  was  a  building  80  by  24  feet,  intended  for  a  hos- 
f  pital,  but  never  used  for  that  purpose,  but  chiefly  by  the  band, 
as  a  practising  room;  the  two  brick  buildings,  previously 
mentioned,  being  occupied  by  the  sick  during  our  stay  in  that 
locality.  The  entrance  to  the  camp  was  from  the  east,  and 
between  the  south  end  of  the  eastern  building  and  a  small 
house  12  by  24  feet,  erected  for  a  guard-house,  and  generally 
pretty  well  filled.  The  buildings  on  the  east  and  west  sides 
of  the  square  accommodated  two  companies  each — the  first 
being  occupied  by  Companies  "A"  and  "K;"  the  second  by 
Companies  "  B  "  and  "  Gr."  These  houses  were  well  arranged 
with  reference  to  convenience  and  comfort;  built  indeed  of 
rough  boards,  but  so  lapped  in  clap-board  style  as  to  keep  out 
the  cold,  and  sufficiently  lighted  to  make  them  cheerful.  Each 
company  had  four  rooms — one  for  a  general  living  room,  the 
bunks  being  built  up  at  its  sides — one  for  the  orderly  and  the 
other  sergeants,  one  for  company  commissary  stores,  and  one 
for  a  kitchen. 

The  officer's  building  formed  the  north  side  of  the  square, 


74  LIFE   IN    BARRACKS. 

the  rooms  in  it  being  appropriated  thus :  The  centre  to  the 
Colonel ;  on  the  left  of  the  centre — first,  the  Adjutant's  Office; 
second,  the  Major's  quarters ;  third,  intended  for  Surgeon,  but 
used  as  a  work-room;  fourth  and  fifth  rooms  for  Captain  and 
Lieutenants  of  Companies  UA"  and  "  K"  On  the  right  of 
the  centre — first,  the  Adjutant's  quarters;  second,  the  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel's;  third,  the  Chaplain's;  fourth  and  fifth  rooms 
for  Captains  and  Lieutenants  of  Companies  "Q"  and  "B;" 
and  sixth  room  for  the  band.  The  Sutler's  shop  was  on  the 
south  end  of  the  west  building.  The  south  side  of  the  square 
was  open,  and  the  space  running  back  to  the  Officers'  quar 
ters  was  used  for  a  parade.  Dress  parade  was  had  at  four 
o'clock  every  afternoon,  except  Sunday,  when  it  was  held  at 
eleven  in  the  morning,  and  followed  by  the  religious  services 
of  the  day. 

In  honor  of  the  Senator  from  New  York,  who  had  mani 
fested  so  much  interest  in  us,  we  named  this  place  "  Camp 
Preston  King." 

In  addition  to  these  buildings,  one  20  by  60  feet  was  erected 
at  the  railroad  crossing  for  quartermasters'  and  commissary 
stores,  containing  also  an  office,  kitchen  and  sleeping-room 
for  those  employed  there. 

Company  "  I,"  stationed  at  Locust  Point,  found  comfortable 
winter  quarters  in  a  portion  of  the.  St.  Charles  Hotel,  then 
otherwise  unoccupied.  Company  "  D  "  at  Mount  Clare,  fitted 
up  one  of  the  engine-houses  belonging  to  the  railroad.  Com 
pany  "  H,"  at  Camden  Station,  had  a  portion  of  their  number 
in  the  upper  story  of  a  building  mainly  occupied  by  the  Union 
Relief  Association,  and  a  portion  in  a  brick  dwelling  at 
Bailey's  Crossing.  Company  "  E  "  erected  comfortable  bar 
racks  near  headquarters,  80  by  24  feet,  for  the  men,  and  12 
by  40  feet  for  the  officers,  and  called  the  place  "  Camp  Robin 
son,"  for  our  Brigadier.  Company  "  C  "  built  near  the  Four- 
Mile  Station,  and  named  their  place  "  Camp  Loane,"  for  Rev. 
Mr.  Loane,  a  Methodist  clergyman  of  Baltimore ;  an  intimate 


LIFE    IN    BARRACKS.  75 

friend  of  Capt.  Redington  and  Lieut.  Hobart.  Company  «  F" 
put  up  buildings  about  a  mile  east  of  the  Relay,  and  called 
the  place  "  Camp  Elliott,"  for  their  Captain.  ' 

Thus  all  the  Companies  were  well  cared  for ;  and  yet  they 
complained,  not  content  with  their  lot,  and  thinking  they  had 
been  wronged  by  being  placed  on  the  railroad.  If  they  could 
only  get  into  the  fighting  field,  they  should  be  abundantly 
satisfied  j  at  least  that  was  the  way  nearly  all  of  them  talked. 
Although  friends  at  home  were  satisfied  that  we  were  doing 
good  service  for  the  Government,  and  we  ourselves  knew  that 
some  one  must  do  what  was  now  required  of*  us,  a  few  un 
easy  spirits  succeeded  in  producing  the  general  feeling  that 
we  were  on  inferior  duty,  and  that  for  some  reason  the  authori 
ties  at  Washington  did  not  think  us  fit  for  anything  else. 

On  the  23d,  John  F.  Forward  of  Company  "  K,"  was  on 
guard  near  Jackson's  Bridge.  Seeing  a  train  approach  on  the 
track  where  he  was  walking,  he  stepped  oi£  to  avoid  danger, 
and  had  hardly  crossed  the  next  track  when  he  was  hit  by  a 
train  from  the  opposite  direction,  which  he  had  not  noticed, 
and  was  thrown  a  dozen  feet  or  more,  breaking, his  leg,  and 
inflicting  several  flesh  wounds  on  his  face  and  head.  It  was 
wonderful  that  he  escaped  with  so  little  damage. 

Several  in  the  regiment  had  an  interest  in  the  promotion 
of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Goodrich,  additional  to  that  of  the 
general  good,  as  they  too  would  be  in  the  line  of  promotion 
to  fill  vacancies ;  they  were  therefore  looking  with  great 
anxiety  for  an  early  answer  to  their  petition,  and  were  griev 
ously  disappointed,  as  we  all  were  much  surprised,  by  the 
arrival,  on  the  27th,  of  Colonel  George  Sears  Greene,  who 
produced  a  commission  from  Governor  Morgan,  authorizing 
and  instructing  him  to  be  our  commander.  He  was  a  man  of 
military  education,  a  graduate  of  West  Point,  but  of  late 
years  a  civil  engineer,  and  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war 
engaged  in  the  engineer's  department  of  the  Croton  Water 
Works,  at  New  York  city.  My  first  impression  of  him,  as  I 


76  LIFE   IN    BARRACKS. 

at  the  time  recorded  it,  was  most  favorable,  and  subsequent 
observation  and  intercourse  has  increased  my  admiration  of 
his  qualities  as  a  man,  and  as  a  soldier.* 

Colonel  Greene  was  greatly  pleased  with  the  appearance  of 
our  men,  apprehending  at  once  that  the  regiment  was  com 
posed  of  most  excellent  material,  and  that,  under  favorable 
circumstances  for  discipline  and  drill,  it  would  be  equal  to 
any  in  the  service.  He  set  himself  at  once  to  a  thorough 
understanding  of  the  condition  of  each  company,  and  to  the 
furnishing  of  all  with  what  was  most  necessary  for  their  effi 
ciency.  By  rlis  order,  the  arms  were  subjected  to  a  severe 
test,  and  Lieutenant  B. '  R.  Clark,  a  practical  gunsmith,  was 
charged  with  their  thorough  inspection.  Until  this  time,  the 
bayonets  had  not  been  fitted  to  the  rifles ;  now  the  gun  was 
either  made  complete  in  every  respect,  or  wholly  condemned. 
But  little  could  be  done  in  the  way  of  drill,  especially  regi- 

*  Since  writing  the  above,  I  find  the  following  in  THE  NEW 
AMERICAN  CYCLOPAEDIA:  "GREENE,  GEORGE  SEARS,  Brigadier- 
General  of  Volunteers  in  the  U.  S.  Army,  born  in  Warwick,  R. 
I.,  May  6,  1801.  He  was  graduated  at  West  Point  in  1823,  and 
assigned  to  the  3d  Artillery';  was  Acting  Assistant  Professor  of 
Mathematics  in  the  Military  Academy,  from  1823  to  1826,  and 
Assistant  Professor  of  Engineering  in  1826-7 ;  became  1st  Lieu 
tenant  in  1829,  and  resigned  his  commission  in  1836.  He  then 
became  a  civil  engineer,  and  was  engaged  on  railroads  and  other 
•works  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  and  on  the  High  Bridge 
and  new  Croton  Reservoir,  in  New  York,  until  1862,  when  he 
was  appointed  (Jan.  18)  Colonel  of  the  60th  N.  Y.  Vols.  He 
was  commissioned  Brigadier-General  of  Volunteers,  April  28, 
1862,  and  assigned  a  command  in  General  Augur's  Division  of 
Banks'  Army  Corps.  On  General  Augur's  promotion,  he  took 
command  of  the  Division,"  and  fought  with  great  gallantry  under 
General  Mansfield,  at  the  battle  of  Antietam."  This,  I  believe, 
is  correct,  except  that  General  Greene  took  General  Augur's 
place,  not  on  account  of  the  promotion  of  the  latter,  but  because 
he  was  disabled  by  a  wound  received  at  the  battle  of  Cedar 
Mountain. 


LIFE    IN    BARRACKS.  77 

mental  drill,  while  the  command  was  so  widely  scattered. 
Colonel  Greene  was  therefore  untiring  in  his  efforts  to  get  the 
regfment  together,  and  had  once  or  twice  nearly  attained  his 
object-,  when  some  unexpected  contingent  compelled  our  re 
maining  as  we  were.  The  failure  of  one  or  two  efforts,  how 
ever,  did  not  discourage  him,  nor  cause  him  to  relax  his 
efforts,  hut  during  the  whole  of  his  stay  with  us,  he  was  un 
tiring  in  his  exertions  to  secure  the  object;  as,  in  his  judg 
ment,  it  was  of  the  first  importance  in  promoting  our  general 
efficiency.  • 

On  the  28th,  Osro  C.  Dunton,  of  Company  "K,"  died  at 
the  Regimental  Hospital,  of  typhoid  fever.  He  was  buried 
the  next  day,  at  Loudon  Park  Cemetery. 

The  same  day  I  received  a  box  of  Testaments  from  the 
American  Bible  Society.  They  were  a  beautiful  edition,  and 
a  very  acceptable  gift,  and  I  endeavored  to  distribute  them 
in  such  a  manner,  both  to  the  officers  and  men,  as  to  furnish 
every  man,  who  desired,  with  a  copy.  Nearly  all  wanted  one, 
except  a  few  Roman  Catholics,  who  preferred  the  Douay  ver 
sion.  I  made  an  effort  for  their  gratification,  but,  at  that 
time,  did  not  succeed. 

About  this  time  we  began  to  receive  more  packages  and 
boxes  of  good  things  from  home.  How  acceptable  they  were, 
and  what  exciting  times  we  had  in  unpacking,  distributing,  and 
devouring  them!  Under-clothing  and  beddingwere  also  sent, 
and  great  quantities  of  mittens,  which  the  girls,  who  sent  them, 
assured  us  were  the  only  kind  the  brave  boys  should  ever  get 
from"  them  !  At  least  that  was  the  way  the  Madrid  girls  ex 
pressed  it  to  Co.  "  G-,"  as  seen  by  this  : 

TROUT  BROOK,  Dec.  29,  1861. 
TO  OUR  COUNTRY'S  PROTECTORS. 
If  your  hands  are  as  warm, 

When  they're  encased  in  these, 
As  our  hearts,  when  we  knit  them, 
Your  fingers  won't  freeze. 


78  LIFE   IN   BARRACKS. 

For  our  hearts  glow  with  love 

For  Uncle  Sam  and  his  boys, 
And  what  we  add  to  their  comfort 

But  adds  to  our  joys. 
We'll  pick  up  all  the  mittens 

That  there  are  about  here, 
And  send  them  out  there, 

So  you  never  need  fear 
That  you'll  suffer  for  mittens 

While  down  there  you  stay, 
Or  get  any  from  us  • 

When  you  come  back  this  way ! 

ALL  THE  GIRLS    UP    THIS    WAY. 

The  following  letter  accompanied  the  articles  mentioned  in 
it,  and  was  read  on  Parade.  The  writer  is  an  aged  lady,  very 
much  esteemed.  « 

ST.  LAWRENCE  Co.,  N.  Y.,  CANTON,  Dec.  3d,  1861. 

SIR  :  I  send  you  a  few  necessaries  for  the  sick  and  wounded 
soldiers  from  my  own  hand :  2  bed-quilts,  2  pillows,  2  bed-gowns, 
4  pair  of  mittens,  9  cushions,  for  wounded  limbs. 

DEAR  SIR  :  Will  you  please  accept  the  small  donation  from 
your  unworthy  friend,  whose  heart  is  ever  opon  to  the  calls  of 
humanity,  and  the  calls  of  our  country.  I  wish  I  could  do  more, 
but  I  can  only  give  you  my  blessing,  and  say  a  few  words  to  en 
courage  the  brave  lads  who  have  volunteered  in  defence  of  our 
country.  I  would  say  to  them,  be  of  good  cheer ;  you  are  en 
listed  in  a  glorious  cause,  and  the  God  of  battles  will  fight  for 
you.  When  you  see  the  great  Cotton  Philistines  approach,  be 
not  disheartened  ;  put  on  courage  like  a  garment ;  let  it  enwrap 
you  like  a  mantle,  for  surely  God  will  aim  the  blow,  from  the 
sling  of  our  "  little  David's"  shepherd  boys,,  to  lay  proud  tyrants 
in  the  dust,  and  put  their  hosts  to  flight.  Methinks  I  already  see 
the  Ark  of  the  Covenant  of  God  moving  down  among  the  tents 
of  our  Israel,  before  whom  no  power  can  stand  !  And  you  also 
have  the  prayers  of  thousands  of  our  matrons,  yes,  ten  thousands 
of  saints  and  preachers,  continually  before  the  Throne  of  Grace, 
pleading  that  you  may  have  a  speedy  and  glorious  victory  with 


LIFE   IN   BARRACKS.  79 

out  bloodshed,  and  that  you  may  return  home  crowned  with 
laurels  of  honor.  The  victory  is  for  you,  the  young  and  rising 
generation,  who  may  live  to  enjoy  its  blessings,  and  sit  under 
the  shade  of  the  palm  tree  of  Freedom. 

Ye  heralds,  proclaim  the  joyful  news  ;  the  year  of  Jubilee  is 
at  hand,  when  the  chains  of  bondage  shall  be  broken,  and  the 
captives  set  free,  and  glorious  Liberty  proclaimed  throughout 
the  entire  land  !  when  our  noble  banner  shall  again  float  every 
where  ! 

Meel  greatly  interested  in  the  cause  of  our  country.     I  would 
that  I  had  a  thousand  arms,  and  all  as  strong  as  Samson ;  they 
should  be  put  forth  in  defence  of  my  country. 
Yours,  with  respect, 

Mrs.  CLARISSA  EMERSON. 

On  the  last  day  of  January  I  recorded  that  our  five  com 
panies  at  and  near  headquarters,  had  mailed,  during  the 
month,  4,305  letters. 

February  1st.  I  received  from  the  office  of  the  "  Christian 
Ambassador,"  at  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  a  package  of  books,  fifteen  in 
number,  of  a  most  excellent  character.  During  the  remainder 
of  our  stay  on  the  railroad  they  were  very  extensively  circulated 
and  read,  and,  I  believe,  produced  good  results.  When  we 
left  the  road,  as  it  was  impossible  to  take  them  with  us,  I 
brought  them  to  Baltimore,  where  they  now  remain,  forming 
a  portion  of  the  library  at  McKim's  Hospital. 

About  the  same  time,  through  the  kindness  of  a  friend  in 
Boston,  John  W.  Dean,  Esq.,  a  package  of  Hymn  books  and 
Tracts  was  received  from  the  Unitarian  Association.  The 
tracts  were  written  expressly  for  soldiers,  were  eagerly  sought 
after,  and  read,  I  think,  with  some  profit.  The  hymn  books 
were  not  so  generally  used  as  I  desired,  but  the  few  who  en 
deavored  to  use  them  in  the  Sunday  service,  thereby  added  to 
the  interest  of  the  occasion.  We  had  many  good  singers  in 
the  regiment,  but  scattered  as  the  companies  were,  it  was  dif 
ficult  to  get  enough  together  who  felt  competent  to  lead.  I 
have  a  happy  recollection,  however,  of  the  interest  taken  in 


80  LIFE   IN    BARRACKS. 

the  matter  by  the  members  of  Co.  "  D,"  and  of  the  pleasant 
meetings  held  at  their  quarters  in  the  carpenter's  shop  at 
Mount  Clare,  and  subsequently  in  the  engine  house  near  that 
locality.  I  am  sure  that  the  surviving  members  of  that  com 
pany  have  not  forgotten  those  days  ! 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  6th,  we  had  a  very  sudden 
death  at  Camp  Preston  King.  Edmond  Mason,  of  Company 
"  K,"  went  to  bed  as  well  as  usual  the  night  before ;  but  about 
midnight  woke  up  the  companion  in  his  bunk  by  his  irregular 
and  labored  breathing.  The  8urgeon  came  over,  but  nothing 
could  help  him,  and  in  a  short  time  he  died  from  congestion* 
of  the  lungs.  Late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  his  body 
was  buried  at  Loudon  Park  Cemetery. 

On  the  afternoon  of  Saturday,  the  8th,  a  social  gathering 
was  had  at  Camp  Loane.  The  ladies  connected  with  the  Union 
Relief  Association  had  been  very  kind  to  Company  "  C,"  and 
as  they  had  notified  the  company  of  their  intended  visit  at 
this  time,  they  were  received  with  an  entertainment  gotten 
up  by  the  company's  chief  caterer ;  and  sumptuous,  as  will  be 
seen  by  the  following 

FARE  BILL. 

Cooked  Constantinople. 

Henry  in  a  Shyear. 

Heated  Bovine. 

Pates  Saccharina. 

Pat's  Own,  Ovenized. 

Steamigated  Murphies. 

Flip-Flaps  and  Sugar-House. 

Crochenawls. 

Puffulated  Hats. 

Atomatized  Bakes. 
Pomatized  Flats. 
-Conglomerated  Spherics. 
Verdant  China. 
Colored  Housing. 
Fricasseed  Rio. 


LIFE   IN    BARRACKS.  81 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Goodrich,  Surgeon  Gale,  J.  D.  Mason, 
Esq.,  of  Baltimore,  myself,  and  our  wives,  were  invited  guests, 
as  was  also  the  band,  who  enlivened  the  occasion  by  playing 
their  best  pieces.  It  was  a  very  pleasant  gathering.  Ample 
justice  was  done  to  the  good  things  on  the  table,  of  which 
there  was  an  abundance;  and  justice  was  also  done  to  the 
"Fare  Bill" — i.e.,  the  things  named  on  it  were  frequently 
called  for !  The  festivities  closed  with  a  grand  "  skirmish 
drill "  by  the  Company.  I  remember  that  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Goodrich  thought  it  a  "  great  squirnrish." 

On  the  17th,  David  P.  Whitman,  of  Company  "  I,"  died 
of  typhoid  fever,  at  the  Adams'  House  Hospital,  in  the  city  of 
Baltimore.  His  remains  were  sent  home  for  burial. 

The  22d  was  a  holiday  for  all  who  were  not  on  duty. 
Nearly  all  the  officers,  and  most  of  the  men,  went  to  Bal 
timore  to  celebrate  the  day  there,  the  loyal  citizens  having 
made  extensive  arrangements  for  its  patriotic  observance. 
The  Washington  Monument,  160  feet  high,  and  surmounted 
by  a  colossal  statue  of  Washington  15  feet  high,  was  wreathed 
with  most  beautiful  flowers,  and  a  mammoth  national  flag  was 
displayed  from  the  top.  The  hall  of  the  Maryland  Institute, 
260  feet  long,  and  60  feet  wide,  was  grandly  decorated  with 
flags,  and  at  noon  was  filled  with  citizens  who  assembled  to 
listen  to  the  reading  of  Washington's  Farewell  Address.  The 
"  Star  Spangled  Banner"  waved  from  all  the  public  buildings, 
from  innumerable  dwellings,  and  from  many  places  of  busi 
ness.  In  the  evening,  houses  were  illuminated,  guns  fired, 
bonfires  kindled,  and  fire-works  displayed  throughout  the  city. 
The  bands  of  the  several  regiments  in  and  about  the  city 
visited  the  hospitals,  and  played  patriotic  and  enlivening  airs, 
much  to  the  gratification  of  the  patients.  Our  band  played 
at  the  National  Hotel  Hospital,  at  the  Union  Belief  Rooms, 
and  at  several  other  places  during,  the  day  and  evening. 

Regimental  drill,  which  had  been  suspended  several  weeks, 
on  account  of  the  superabundance  of  mud  in  the  vicinity  of 


82  LIFE   IN    BARRACKS. 

our  camp,  was  resumed  about  this  time,  and  the  site  of  the 
first  Camp  liathbone  was  the'  drill  ground.  Occasionally  we 
had  spectators  from  the  city. 

The  spot  where  our  barracks  stood  had  been  covered  with 
stunted  oaks  and  other  brushwood,  the  tops  of  which  were 
cleared  off  at  the  time  the  buildings  were  erected,  but  the 
stumps  and  roots  left  in  the  ground  were  very  much  in  the 
way,  especially  on  the  parade.  Colonel  Greene  provided  the 
prisoners  in  the  guard-house  with  picks,  wheelbarrows  and 
shovels,  and  set  them  to  clearing  up.  The  men  did  not 
much  over-exert  themselves  to  finish  their  job,  but  after  a 
while  it  was  completed,  and  we  had  a  smooth  and  comfortable 
ground.  The  prisoners  desiring  to  do  everything  according 
to  military  art,  made  a  complete  organization  among  them 
selves,  calling  it  Company  "  Q,"  being  at  that  time  sufficiently 
numerous  to  elect  all  the  necessary  officers,  from  the  colonel 
down  to  a  corporal.  The  greatest  scamps  were  selected  for 
the  highest  offices,  which  they  affirmed  was  invariably  the 
rule  in  the  regiment,  although  it  was  generally  denied  there, 
but  they,  as  honest  men,  were  *bound  to  have  agreement  be 
tween  their  professions  and  their  practice !  Among  their 
number,  was  one  fellow  from  Company  "  E.,"  who,  on  account 
of  his  frequent  arrests  for  abusing  his  pass  by  overstaying  his 
time  and  getting  drunk,  was  constantly  in  the  line  of  promo 
tion.  He  was  something  of  a  wit;  and  caused  no  little  merri 
ment  among  us  all. 

On  one  occasion,  while  talking  with  the  men,  and  inquiring 
into  the  cause  of  their  arrest,  I  came  to  him  and  was  answered  : 

"  I  am  here  because  I  was  devoted  to  my  religion." 

"  Some  mistake  about  that,  I  guess.  Nobody  in  the  regi 
ment  is  punished  on  account  of  their  religion." 

"  No  mistake  about  it.  I  am  persecuted  for  devotion  to  my 
religion." 

"  How  so  ?" 

"  Why,  you  see,  I  got  a  pass  on  Sunday,  to  be  gone  from 


LIFE   IN    BARRACKS.  83 

1  o'clock  till  8 ;  but  at  8  services  wa'nt  over,  and  I  was  in 
terested  and  couldn't  get  away ;  and  when  my  church  was  out, 
I  thought  'twas  too  late  to  come  back,  and  so  waited  till  Mon 
day  noon.  So  they  arrested  me  for  devotion  to  my  church  !" 

"  You  ought  to  have  come  back  Sunday  night ;  you  would 
have  been  excused  if  you  were  late  on  account  of  being  at 
church.  You  know  what  the  Regulations  require?" 

"  The  Regulations  !  0,  but  they're  awful  hard  on  a  fellow  ! 
Why,  the  Bible  don't  have  but  Ten  Commandments,  and  the 
Regulations  have  five  hundred  or  more !  How  can  they  ex 
pect  a  fellow  like  me  to  know  the  Regulations  !" 

I  had  to  join  in  the  laugh  that  followed;  and  heard  him 
remark,  as  I  went  away :  "  I  reckon  I  got  well  clear  of  a  lec 
ture  that  time  I" 

On  the  26th,  Company  "Q"  met  with  an  irreparable  loss. 
Three  of  its  most  brilliant  members,  Nicholas  Hoffman,  Wm. 
Morehead  and  Washington  Liskum,  had  been  honored  with  a 
trial  by  Court-Martial,  and  being  found  guilty  of  several  mis 
demeanors  and  villanies,  were  sentenced  to  be  dishonorably 
discharged  from  the  service,  drummed  out  of  camp,  and  put 
to  hard  labor  on  the  public  works.  The  execution  of  the 
sentence  on  the  morning  mentioned,  somewhat  dampened  the 
enthusiasm  of  the  remaining  prisoners;  and  although  they 
frequently  joked  about  the  promotion,  as  they  called  it,  I  be 
lieve  they  never  took  heart  to  go  into  another  election. 

The  companies  at  headquarters  and  Company  "E;;  mailed, 
in  February,  4,369  letters. 

With  the  coming  in  of  the  month  of  March,  we  got  rumors 
that  we  were  to  be  relieved  from  railroad  duty.  General  Dix, 
then  in  command  at  Baltimore,  had  been  ordered  to  send  four 
regiments  from  his  Department  to  Fortress  Monroe;  and  it 
was  said  that  we  were  named  in  the  movement.  We  thought 

G 

the  report  well  founded,  and  were  very  jubilant  at  the  pros 
pect  of  a  change,  especially  as  it  would  bring  us  all  together 
again.  We  indulged  in  very  pleasant  fancies  for  a  few  days, 


84  LIFE   IN    BARRACKS. 

and  on  the  7th  of  the  month  we  got  orders  to  move;  but, 
alas !  for  our  expectations !  Our  move  was  in  a  different 
direction  from  what  we  had  expected,  and  the  orders  made  it 
pretty  certain  that  we  would  not  soon  be  relieved  from  the 
railroad !  On  the  8th,  the  orders  were  obeyed  •  and  all  the 
companies  at  headquarters  were  moved  up  towards  Annapolis 
Junction,  eighteen  miles  from  Baltimore.  Companies  "I," 
"  H  "  and  "  D"  remained  where  they  were,  in  the  city.  Com 
pany  "  E "  Was  in  the  barracks,  at  Camp  Robinson,  and  the 
remaining  six  companies  were  scattered  along  the  road ;  Com 
pany  "  Gr"  being  the  last,  and  having  its  quarters  at  Annapolis 
Junction.  The  Field  and  Staff  Officers,  the  Band,  and  a  guard 
from  Company  "  E,"  remained  at  Camp  Preston  King. 

The  same  morning  that  this  move  was  made,  1st  Lieutenant 
Henry  C.  Eastman  died.  When  the  barracks  were  built,  he 
had  charge  of  their  erection,  and  from  exposure  and  overwork 
then,  brought  on  typhoid  fever.  A  "few  days  after  his  sick 
ness  commenced,  he  was  taken  to  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Walte- 
niyer,  on  the  Washington  Turnpike,  where  he  remained  till 
he  died,  receiving  unwearied  kindness,  and  every  possible 
attention.  From  the  first,  delirium  was  one  of  the  prominent 
symptoms  of  his  disease,  making  it  impossible  for  him.  to 
understand  his  condition,  or  to  arrange  his  business.  On  the 
9th,  funeral  service  was  held  at  Mrs.  Waltemyer's,  and  the 
body  taken  to  the  city  and  put  in  charge  of  the  Express  Com 
pany,  who  forwarded  it  to  St.  Lawrence  County. 

Lieutenant  Eastman  was  a  most  excellent*  man ;  quiet  and 
unobtrusive,  but  always  prompt  in  duty,  and  true  to  every 
trust  and  obligation.  He  entered  the  army  purely  from  a  con 
viction  that  he  was  needed,  and  was  untiring  in  his  efforts  to 
do  his  whole  duty.  In  moral  worth  he  ranked  high,  and 
though  a  man  of  few  words,  his  life  was  a  constant  example 
of  rectitude.  Peace  to  his  ashes  ! 

Second  Lieutenant  A.  B.  Shipman  was  promoted  to  fill 
the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  death  of  Lieut.  Eastman,  and 


LIFE   IN    BARRACKS.  85 

Orderly-Sergeant  Edward  Rich  became  Second  Lieutenant, 
the  commissions  of  both  giving  them  rank  from  March  8th. 

The  move  from  Camp  Preston  King  was  occasioned  by  the 
removal  of  the  1st  Michigan  Regiment  from  Annapolis  Junc 
tion  to  Virginia.  Colonel  Dixon  S.  Miles  succeeded  Colonel 
Robinson  in  command  of  the  Brigade.  He  took  from  us 
Lieutenant  H.  C.  Reynolds  to  act  as  his  Assistant  Adjutant- 
General,  who  continued  to  serve  in  that  capacity  till  the  death 
of  Colonel  Miles,  the  following  September. 

Colonel  Greene  immediately  set  to  work  to  get  as  much  of 
the  regiment  together  as  possible.  Colonel  Miles  soon  gave 
permission  for  the  removal  of  Companies  "  D,"  "  H"  and  "  I" 
to  Camp  Preston  King,  and  they  came  up  about  the  20th. 

In  those  days  we  had,  in  common  with  the  whole  country, 
I  suppose,  a  great  deal  of  talk  about  the  iron-clad  Merrimac, 
whose  recent  exploits  had,  like  the  attack  on  Fort  Sumter, 
kindled  afresh  all  slumbering  patriotism,  and  as  everybody 
was  fruitful  in  schemes  for  the  destruction  of  the  monster,  so 
we  felt  in  duty  bound  to  contribute  our  share  of  practicable 
plans  for  its  seizure.  I  do  not,  of  course,  remember  all  that 
was  proposed,  but  Captain  Jones  had  a  project,  the  originality 
and  boldness  of  which  will  insure  it  a  place  in  my  memory  till 
the  days  of  second  childhood  make  me  forgetful  of  all  the  novel 
ties  of  life.  "  Give  me,"  said  Captain  Jones,  "  sixteen  men, 
picked  men,  mind  you,  from  my  company,  and  on  a  dark  night 
we  will  take  a  boat,  row  softly  up  to  the  Merrimac,  enter  the 
port-holes,  blind  the  guard  and  crew  by  throwing  Cayenne  pep 
per  in  their  eyes,  and  then  bring  the  ship  under  the  guns  of 
Fortress  Monroe  !"  Nobody  was  sufficiently  devoted  to  the 
interests  of  the  Government  to  communicate  this  plan  to  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  and — the  Merrimac  was  lost  to  us  ! 

While   the   regiment  was  on  its  way  to  New  York  from 

Albany,  Company  "  A"  held  an  election  to  fill  the  vacancy 

caused  by  the  promotion  of  Captain  Montgomery.     Michael 

H.  Crowley  was  elected  Second  Lieutenant,  but  as  the  pro- 

8 


80  LIFE    IN    BARRACKS. 

ceedings  were  illegal,  the  office  being  one  of  appointment,  and 
not  of  election,  after  the  organization  had  been  effected,  he 
did  not  receive  any  commission.  He  had,  indeed,  discharged 
the  duties  of  the  office  since  his  election,  and  by  an  error  of  . 
Colonel  Hayward  in  returning  him  as  Second  Lieutenant  on 
the  muster-roll,  had  drawn  the  pay  belonging  to  that  office. 
Colonel  Greene  took  the  ground  that  he  could  not  so  muster 
him  till  he  was  sure  he  had  a  commission,  and  in  order  to 
settle  the  matter  so  that  he  might  make  a  clear  statement  of  the 
case  to  the  Governor,  he  ordered  Crowley  before  the  Lieut.  - 
Colonel  and  Major  for  examination.  They  reported  that  he 
was  not  qualified  for  the  position. 

Sergeant  N.  M.  Dickinson  was  then  recommended  for  pro 
motion,  and  on  Colonel  Greene's  asking  for  his  appointment, 
was  commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  with  rank  from  April  1st. 

The  10th  Maine  Regiment,  which  had  returned  to  its  old 
ground  after  our  leaving  Camp  Morgan,  was  now  sent  up  to 
Harper's  Ferry,  and  we  received  orders  to  move  to  the  Relay 
with  two  companies.  On  the  28th,  the  Field  and  Staff, 
the  Band,  the  Quartermaster's  Department,  the  Hospital,  and 
Companies  "  D"  and  "  H,"  moved  up  to  the  old  ground,  now 
named  by  Colonel  Greene,  Camp  Miles,  in  honor  of  our  acting 
Brigadier.  Company  "  E-"  moved  over  to  Camp  Preston 
King,  where  we  also  left  Company  "  I." 

We  found  very  comfortable  barracks  at  Camp  Miles,  though 
not  as  good  as  those  we  left  behind.  The  grounds,  however, 
were  much  pleasanter,  and  the  landscape  was  very  beautiful. 
Major  Brundage  went  up  to  Annapolis  Junction,  where  Com 
pany  "A"  had  joined  Company  "G,"  and,  before  long,  Com 
panies  "  C  "  and  "  F  "  were  brought  in  to  Camp  Miles. 

Some  idea  of  the  condition  of  the  regiment  at  this  time, 
and  of  what  was  thought  would  tend  to  its  improvement,  may 
be  gained  from  the  following  report : 


LIFE    IN    BARRACKS.  87 

HEADQUARTERS  COxn  REQ'T  N.  Y.  S.  V., 

CAMP  MILES,  March  Slst,  18G2. 
To  COLONEL  GEORGE  S.  GREENE, 

Commanding  60th  Reg't  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers : 

SIR:  It  is  made  my  duty,  by  act  of  Congress,  approved  July 
22,  18G1 — as  see  "  Revised  Army  Regulations/'  p.  521 — to  report 
to  you  "  at  the  end  of  each  quarter,  the  moral  and  religious  con 
dition  of  the  regiment,  and  such  suggestions  as  may  conduce  to 
the  social  happiness  and  moral  improvement  of  the  troops.'7 

There  are  difficulties  in  the  way  of  a  complete  discharge  of  this 
duty.  I  made  mention  of  them  in  my  last  report,  to  which  I  beg 
leave  to  refer  you,  as  the  circumstances  of  situation  therein  no 
ticed  are  not  materially  changed. 

While  I  think  it  safe  to  say,  as  gleaned  from  the  testimony  of 
those  who  have  visited  several  camps,  that  the  moral  condition 
of  this  regiment  will  compare  favorably  with  that  of  any  other 
in  the  volunteer  service,  I  am  not  without  hope  that  a  very  de 
cided  improvement  may  be  made  in  our  men. 

Many  in  this  command  have  been  unavoidably  subject  to 
some  of  the  most  alluring  and  fatal  temptations  that  could  be 
spread  before  a  soldier.  Their  proximity  to  a  large  city — some 
of  them  having  been  assigned  to  duty  in  locations  not  remarkable 
for  virtuous  occupants,  nor  for  the  prohibition  of  immoral  com 
merce — has  been  fruitful  of  much  evil.  And  even  in  the  com 
panies  which  have  had  the  least  opportunity  for  falling  into  the 
vices  peculiar  to  the  city,  some  have  contracted  habits,  which  it 
is  to  be  feared,  may  yet  produce  the  most  unfortunate  results. 
Isolated  from  other  companies,  and  not  having  that  demand  on 
their  time  which  would  be  made  if  it  was  possible  to  give  them, 
a  greater  variety  of  drill,  they  have,  for  amusement,  resorted  to 
card-playing  ;  by  which  habit,  so  great  are  its  fascinations  to  most 
men,  they  are — even  if  secure  by  their  good  moral  resolutions 
from  becoming  gamblers — accustoming  themselves  to  such  a  low 
estimate  of  the  value  of  time,  as  will  unfit  them  for  usefulness 
when,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  they  will  again  be  thrown  upon 
their  own  resources  in  civil  life. 

I  also  have  my  fears  that  the  sin  of  profanity  is  more  common 
in  this  regiment  at  the  present  time  than  it  ever  has  been  before. 
Whether  this  would  have  been*  less  if  the  regiment  had  been  kept 


88  LIFE   IN   BARRACKS. 

together,  we  cannot,  of  course,  positively  affirm,  but  this  much 
I  have  very*  plainly  discovered,  that  there  is  the  most  profanity 
used  by  those  who  have  been  longest  away  from  headquarters. 

In  view  of  these  facts,  I  desire  to  submit  the  following  sugges 
tions  : 

1st.  That  the  practice  of  allowing  the  men  to  visit  the  city 
shall,  so  far  as  possible,  be  discontinued  ;  or,  at  least,  be  put 
under  such  restrictions  as  will  exclude  those  from  the  privilege 
who  are  addicted  to  habits  of  inebriety  or  licentiousness.  Some 
officers  may  fear  that,  by  too  great  strictness,  they  shall  make 
the  camp  seem  too  much  like  a  prison.  I  apprehend,  however, 
that  the  real  danger  of  the  men  is  not  to  be  found  in  the  severity 
of  a  wholesome  discipline,  but  in  the  laxity  and  timidity  of  those 
who,  since  they  have  authority  over  others,  ought  to  feel  the 
responsibility  of  using  it  wisely  and  with  a  firm  hand.  Men  are 
much  more  likely  to  be  injured  by  indulgence  than  they  are  by 
restraint. 

2d.  I  would  suggest  that,  as  a  help  to  whatever  persuasion  or 
other  means  may  be  used  in  endeavoring  to  wean  the  men  from 
card-playing,  the  attention  of  the  "  Council  of  Administration" 
ehall  be  called  to  the  propriety  and  wisdom  of  making  an  appro 
priation  from  the  "  Post  Fund"  for  the  purchase  of  books  for  the 
use  of  the  regiment.  I  am  convinced,  from  an  experiment  already 
tried  with  a  few  books  given  for  library  purposes,  that  there  is  a 
disposition  on  the  part  of  many  to  employ  their  leisure  time  in 
a  beneficial  manner.  If  the  opportunity  could  be  extended,  ex 
cuse  would  in  a  great  measure  be  taken  away  from  those 
whose  apology  for  a  foolish  thing  is  that  "they  have  nothing  else 
to  do." 

Finally,  I  would  suggest  that,  since  profanity  is  such  an  inex 
cusable  and  yet  such  a  heinous  sin,  that  those  who  use  it  shall 
be  subjected  to  the  penalty  prescribed  in  the  Articles  of  War,  or 
to  such  other  and,  if  needs  be,  such  additional  penalty  as  will 
restrain  them ;  and  that  company  commandants  be  instructed  to 
exert  themselves  for  the  suppression  of  the  evil. 

We  are  not  in  a  situation  to  attempt  any  associated  effort  for 
any  purpose.  It  is  therefore  greatly  incumbent  on  us  to  feel  the 
responsibility  of  individual  influence,  and  the  importance  of 
personal  example.  Whether  exertions  for  the  reformation  of  the 


LIFE   IN    BARRACKS.  89 

vicious  shall  succeed  or  not,  it  is  clearly  in  the  power  of  those 
who  have  authority,  to  restrain.  I  therefore  recommend,  if  the 
above  suggestions  seem  of  any  worth,  that  you  inaugurate  such 
measures  as  shall  tend  to  make  them  efficient. 

Nothing  is  more  obvious  than  that  the  war  in  which  we  are 
engaged  is  for  the  purpose,  on  our  part,  of  conserving  some  of 
the  highest  and  dearest  interests  of  man  ;  and  it  ought  to  be  felt 
by  all  who  have  any  part  in  the  struggle,  that  the  preservation 
of  such  interests,  and  their  subsequent  enjoyment  will  be  best 
and  only  well  secured  by  those  who  discipline  themselves,  and 
seek  to  incite  others  to  the  highest  perfection  possible  to  man. 
Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

RICHARD  EDDY, 
Chaplain  60th  Reg't  N.  Y.  S.  V. 

"We  had  hardly  got  settled  in  our  new  quarters,  when  it 
became  known  to  us  that  an  order  had  been  issued  for  us  to 
report  to  Washington,  but  that  through  the  interference  of 
Col.  Miles  it  had  been  countermanded.  We  felt  very  unplea 
sant  about  it,  but  could  not  do  anything  else. 

I  find  by  my  memorandum  that  I  mailed  3063  letters  in 
the  month  of  March. 

Early  in  April  the  President,  in  view  of  recent  victories, 
issued  a  proclamation  calling  on  the  people  to  give  thanks  to 
Almighty  God  for  the  success  which  had  attended  our  arms  ; 
and  the  Secretary  of  War  made  an  order  that  the  troops 
should,  at  meridian,  on  the  Sunday  following  their  receipt  of 
the  order,  comply  with  the  request  in  the  Proclamation.  Col. 
Greene  issued  a  Regimental  Order,  on  being  notified  of  the 
above,  and  on  Sunday,  the  13th,  we  assembled  at  noon,  on  the 
Parade,  and  offered  our  thanksgivings.  A  discourse  followed 
on  True  Manliness,  the  Demand  on  the  American  Soldier,  from 
2d  Samuel  x.  12  :  "  Be  of  good  courage,  and  let  us  play  the 
men  for  our  people,  and  for  the  cities  of  our  God,  and  the 
Lord  do  that  which  seemeth  him  good." 
8* 


90  LIFE    IN  BARRACKS. 

A  Court  Martial  was  held  on  the  llth  for  the  trial  of  some 
of  the  surviving  members  of  Co.  "  Q ;"  and  .subsequently  the 
following  order  gave  us  the  results  :  • 

HEADQUARTERS,  MIDDLE  DEPARTMENT, 

BALTIMORE,  Md.,  June  1,  18G2. 
GENERAL  ORDERS,  No.  15. 

I.  Before  a  General  Court  Martial,  of  which  Lieut.  Colonel 
William  B.  Goodrich,  60th  New  York  Volunteers,  is  President, 
convened  at  Camp  Miles,  Maryland,  April,  1862,  under  Special 
Orders,  No.  97,  issued  from  these  Headquarters,  April  9,  1862, 
were  arraigned  and  tried  the  five  following  persons,  viz : 
1st.  Sylvanus  J.  Titus,  Drummer,  Company  "  D,"  60th  New  York 
Volunteers,  on  the  following  charge  and  specification,  viz. : 
"  Conduct  prejudicial  to  good  order  and  Military  discipline." 
Specification. — "In  this,   that  he,  the  said    Sylvanus  J.Titus, 
Drummer  of  Company  "D,"   60th    New  York  Volun 
teers  aforesaid,  did,  on  or  about  the  14th  day  of  March, 
1862,  at  Mount  Clare  Station,  Baltimore,  Md.,  lift  and 
•    attempt  to  carry  off,  and  appropriate  to  his  own  use,  a 
sack  of  oats;    said  sack  of  oats  supposed  to  have  been 
taken  from  a  car  standing  near,  but  by  means  unknown." 
PLEA— Of  the  Specification,  "Not  Guilty." 
Of  the  CHARGE,  "  Not  Guilty." 

The  Court  having  considered  the  evidence,  finds  the  accused 
as  follows,  viz : 

Of  the  Specification,  "  Not  Guilty." 
Of  the  CHARGE,  "  Not  Guilty." 
And  therefore  acquits  him. 

2d.  Private  Aaron  Fiske,  Company  I,  60th  Regiment  New  York 
Volunteers,  on  the  following  charge  and  specification,  viz : 

CHARGE. 

"  Offering  violence  to  liis  Superior  Officer." 

Specification — "In  this,  that  he,  the  said  private  Aaron  Fiske, 
Company  "  I,"  60th  Regiment  New  York  Volunteers, 
on  or  about  the  1st  day  of  March,  1862,  did  strike  at 
his  Captain,  Jesse  H.  Jones,  with  a  bottle,  aiming  the 


LIFE   IN   BARRACKS.  91 

blow  at  his  head.     All  this  at  Locust  Point,  Baltimore, 
Md." 
PLEA— Of  the  Specification,  "  Not  Guilty." 

Of  the  CHARGE,  "  Not  Guilty." 

The  Court  in  consideration  of  the  evidence  finds  the  accused 
as  follows,  viz. : 

Of  the  Specification,  "Not  Guilty." 
Of  the  CHARGE,  "Not  Guilty." 
And  therefore  acquits  him. 

3d.  Private  George  Sayers,  Company  "  F,"  60th  Regiment  New 
York  Volunteers,  on  the  following  charge  and  specifications : 

CHARGE. 

"  Conduct  prejudicial  to  good  order  and  Military  discipline. 

Specification  1st. — "  In  this,  that  the  said  Private  George  Sayers, 
of  the  said  Company  "F,"  while  doing  guard  duty  at 
No.  3  Post,  of  Captain  Thorn**  Elliott's  guard,  on  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  on  or  about  the  llth 
day  of  March,  1862,  stole  a  barrel  of  flour  from  off  one 
of  the  freight  trains,  and  secreted  it  on  his  post.  This 
on  the  line  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  about 
nine  miles  from  Baltimore,  Md." 

Specification  2d. — "  In  this,  that  the  said  George  Sayers,  Com 
pany  "  F,"  60th  Regiment  New  York  Volunteers,  in 
the  service  of  the  United  States,  when  on  duty  as  sen 
tinel,  charged  with  the  protection  of  property  on  said 
road,  did,  on  or  about  the  llth  day  of  March,  1862,  con 
ceal  a  barrel  of  flour  which  was  lying  on  his  post  and 
attempt  to  convert  it  to  his  own  use.  This  on  the  line 
of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  and  about  nine 
miles  from  Baltimore,  Md." 

Specification  3d. — "  In  this,  that  the  said  Private  George  Sayers, 
of  the  said  Company  "  F,"  contrary  to  the  orders  re 
ceived  by  him  from  his  superior  officers,  to  protect  all  the 
railroad  employees  in  the  execution  of  their  lawful  duties, 
threatened  to  shoot  Thomas  J.  English,  a  switchman 
on  the  said  railroad,  and  rob  every  train,  (or  words  to 
that  effect,)  if  he  the  said  Thomas  J.  English  dared  report 


92  LIFE  IN   BARRACKS. 

the  theft,  hereinbefore  mentioned,  to  the  authorities,  the 
said  switchman  being  at  the  time  in  the  execution  of  his 
duty  in  looking  after  the  missing  barrel  of  flour.  This 
on  the  line  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  about 
nine  miles  from  Baltimore,  Md.,  on  or  about  the  llth 
day  of  March,  1862." 

PLEA— Of  each  Specification,  "  Not  Guilty." 
Of  the  CHARGE,  "Not  Guilty." 

Upon  the  evidence  the  Court  finds  the  accused  as  follows,  viz. : 

Of  the  1st  Specification,  "  Not  Guilty." 

Of  the  2d  Specification,  "  Not  Guilty." 

Of  the  3d  Specification,  "  Not  Guilty." 

Of  the  CHARGE,  "Not  Guilty." 
And  therefore  acquits  him. 

4th.  Private  Charles  Santo,  Company  "  F,"  60th  New  York 
Volunteers,  on  the  following  charges  and  specifications, 
viz. : 

CHARGE  I. 

"  Getting  drunk  on  his  post  as  sentinel." 

Specification. — "  In  this,  that  said  Charles  Santo,  Private  in  Com 
pany  "  F,"  60th  New  York  Volunteers,  did,  on  or  about 
the  14th  day  of  April,  1862,  while  posted  as  a  sentinel 
on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  at  Post  No.  14  of 
the  camp  ground,  at  the  crossing  of  the  Washington 
road,  get  drunk." 

CHARGE  II. 

"Leaving  his  post  while  posted  as  a  sentinel,  without  being  regularly 
relieved." 

Specification. — "  In  this,  that  the  said  Charles  Santo,  did,  on  or 
about  the  14th  day  of  April,  1862,  while  posted  as  a 
sentinel  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  at  Post 
No.  14  of  the  camp  guard,  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad,  at  the  crossing  of  the  Washington  road  at 
Elkridge  Landing,  leave  his  post  without  being  regularly 
relieved,  and  go  into  a  store  or  liquor  shop  near  by, 
said  Santo  being  a  private  in  Company  "F,"  60th  Re 
giment  New  York  Volunteers." 


LIFE   IN   BARRACKS.  93 

CHARGE  III. 
"  Conduct  prejudicial  to  good  order  and  Military  discipline." 

Specification  1st. — "  In  this,  that  said  Charles  Santo,  Private  in 
Company  "  F,"  60th  New  York  Volunteers,  did,  on  or 
about  the  14th  day  of  April,  1862,  while  posted  as  a 
sentinel  at  Post  No.  14  of  the  camp  guard,  on  the  Bal 
timore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  at  the  crossing  of  the  Wash 
ington  road  at  Elkridge  Landing,  refuse  to  allow  Cor 
poral  Schuyler,  of  Company  "  F,"  60th  New  York  Vo 
lunteers,  to  pass,  said  Schuyler  having  a  legal  pass 
signed  by  Capt.  Elliott,  commanding  Company  "  F," 
60th  New  York  Volunteers,  and  countersigned  by  com 
mandant  of  Camp/' 

Specification  2d. — "  In  this,  that  the  said  Charles  Santo,  Private 
as  above  stated,  did,  on  or  about  the  14th  day  of  April, 
1862,  while  on  his  post  as  a  sentinel  as  stated  in  first 
specification,  insult  and  strike  Corporal  Schuyler,  of  Com 
pany  "F,"  as  above  stated,  without  any  just  cause." 

PLEA— Of  Specification  to  Charge  1,  "  Not  Guilty." 
Of  CHARGE  1,  "  Not  Guilty.' 

Of  Specification  to  Charge  2,  "  Not  Guilty.' 
Of  CHARGE  2,  "  Not  Guilty.' 

Of  Specification  1,  Charge  3,  "  Not  Guilty.' 
Of  Specification  2,  Charge  3,  "  Not  Guilty.' 
Of  CHARGE  3,  "Not  Guilty.' 

Upon  considering  the  evidence,  the  Court  finds  the  accused  of 
ea.ch  and  all  the  specifications  and  charges,  "Guilty." 

And  therefore  sentences  him  "  To  be  confined  at  hard  labor  at 
the  headquarters  of  the  60th  New  York  Volunteers,  for  one  month, 
and  undergo  the  stoppage  of  one  month's  pay,  to  ask  pardon  of 
Corporal  Jacob  Schuyler,  of  Company  "  F,"  in  the  presence  of 
the  regiment,  and  then  and  there  to  be  reprimanded  by  the 
commanding  officer." 

5th.  Corporal  Albert  Davenport,  Company  "A,"  60th  New  York 
Volunteers,  on  the  following  charge  and  specification  : 


94  LIFE   IN    BARRACKS. 

.CHARGE. 
"  Conduct  prejndical  to  good  order  and  Military  discipline." 

Specification. — "  In  this,  that  the  said  Albert  Davenport,  Corpo 
ral  in  Company  "  A,"  GOth  New  York  Volunteers,  did, 
on  or  about  the  4th  day  of  March,  1862,  steal  from  S. 
W.  Lasselle,  Private  in  the  aforesaid  Company  "  A,"  a 
watch  which,  at  said  time  was  the  private  property  of 
said  S.  "W.  Lasselle.  This  at  Camp  Preston  King,  near 
Baltimore,  Md." 
PLEA— Of  the  Specification,  "  Not  Guilty." 

Of  the  CHARGE,  "  Not  Guilty." 

Upon  consideration  of  the  evidence,  the  Court  finds  the  accused, 
Of  the  Specification,  "  Guilty." 
Of  the  CHARGE,  "Guilty." 

And  therefore  sentences  him,  "  To  be  dishonorably  discharged 
from  the  service  of  the  United  States,  and  forfeit  all  pay  and  al 
lowances  due  him,  with  the  exception  of  the  amount  due  the 
Sutler  and  Laundress,  and  be  confined  at  hard  labor  in  the  Peni 
tentiary  at  Washington,  for  the  term  of  three  months." 

II. — In  case  1,  Sylvanus  J.  Titus,  Drummer  of  Company  "D," 
GOth  New  York  Volunteers,  the  proceedings  are  approved  and 
the  acquittal  confirmed.  Private  Titus  will  be  relieved  from  con 
finement  and  returned  to  duty. 

In  case  2,  Private  Aaron  Fiske,  Company  "  I,"  GOth  Regiment 
New  York  Volunteers,  the  Major-General -in  command  reluctantly 
confirms  the  proceedings  in  this  case.  The  testimony  of  Capt. 
Jones  "clearly  shows  that  the  accused  was  guilty  of  the  act 
charged,  but  the  Court  having  found  the  accused  not" guilty, 
evidently  by  reason  of  an  omission  of  proof  on  the  part  of  the 
prosecution,  Private  Fiske  will  be  released  and  returned  to  duty. 

In  case  3,  Private  George  Sayers,  Company  "F,"  GOth  New 
York  Volunteers,  the  proceedings  are  approved  and  the  acquittal 
confirmed.  Private  Sayers  will  be  released  and  returned  to  duty. 

In  case  4,  Private  Charles  Santo,  Company  "F,"  GOth  New 
York  Volunteers,  the  proceedings  are  approved,  and  the  sentence 
will  be  executed,  except  that  part  of  it  which  requires  the  ac 
cused  to  ask  pardon  of  Corporal  Schuyler.  The  sentence  is 
entirely  too  mild  for  the  offence. 


LIFE    IN    BARRACKS.  95 

In  case  5,  Corporal  Albert  Davenport,  Company  "  A,"  60th 
New  York  Volunteers,  the  proceedings  are  approved  and  the 
sentence  is  confirmed,  except  so  much  thereof  as  imposes  im 
prisonment.  Corporal  Davenport  will  be  dishonorably  discharged 
from  the  service  of  the  United  States  immediately  on  the  receipt 
of  this  order. 

The  Court  is  hereby  dissolved. 

By  order  of  Major  General  Dix : 

D.  T.  VAN  BUREN, 

Assistant  Adjutant- General. 

Before  this  decision  was  announced,  Davenport  broke  away 
from  his  confinement  and  deserted.  Certain  facts,  which 
were  elicited  at  the  trial,  justify  the  supposition  that  on  mak 
ing  his  escape,  he  went  to  a  house  of  ill-fame,  in  Baltimore, 
where  he  was  provided  with  a  suit  of  citizen's  clothes,  in 
which  he  easily  eluded,  detection. 

On  the  18th,  Major  Elliott  came  and  paid  us  for  the  months 
of  January  and  February.  I  have  mislaid  my  record  of  the 
amounts  sent  home  by  each  company,  but  the  aggregate  was 
fourteen  thousand  nine  hundred  dollars. 

•  On  the  24th,  a  sad  accident  occurred  at  Annapolis  Junc 
tion.  Elderkin  Rose  and  Wallace  Smith,  both  members  of 
Company  "  A,"  were  playing  cards,  when  Rose  playfully  ac 
cused  Smith  of  cheating,  threatening,  if  he  did  it  again,  to 
shoot  him  with  an  old-fashioned  pistol  that  lay  near,  and 
which  no  one  supposed  was  loaded,  as  caps  had  been  exploded 
on  it  with  impunity  several  times  in  the  course  of  the  day. 
Neither  party  having  any  care  for  the  game,  but  chiefly  in 
terested  in  having  a  good  time,  the  cards  were  thrown  down 
right  or  wrong,  just  as  it  happened,  when  Rose,  picking  up 
the  pistol  and  asking  Smith  if  he  remembered  the  threat, 
pulled  the  trigger.  Unfortunately,  an  old  charge  exploded, 
and  the  ball  entered  Smith's  right  breast.  He  simply  ex 
claimed,  "  Oh,  Rose !"  when,  suffocated  by  the  rising  blood, 
he  fell  back  and  soon  expired.  The  agony  of  Rose  was  un- 


96  LIFE    IN    BARRACKS. 

speakable !  all  the  avenues  of  comfort  were  closed ;  and  he 
passed  into  the  wildest  possible  despair !  Smith  had  been  his 
most  intimate  friend  ;  they  had  mutually  chosen  each  other 
as  companions,  and  w<jre  always  cheerful  and  happy  when  to 
gether. 

Major  Brundage,  Captain  Day  and  Lieutenant  Foot,  were 
appointed  to  investigate  the  affair,  and  made  a  report  of  the 
evidence  taken,  disclosing  the  facts  as  above  stated. 

The  funeral  services  of  Smith  were  held  on  the  25th,  and 
his  remains  forwarded  to  his  home  in  Hermon. 

I  think  it  was  about  this  time  that  Lieutenant  Gleason, 
who  had  been  North  to  recruit  for  the  regiment,  returned,  and 
the  following-named  new  men,  recruited  by  him,  were  assigned 
to  the  different  companies. 

Anderson,  J.  Lee,  J. 

Burnham,  L.  G.  Lee,  T. 

Bockus,  C.  E.  Loge,  E. 

Barlow,  S.  Marshall,  E. 

Collins,  M.  B.  Myers,  W.  R. 

Clark,  N.  B.  Ostrander,  G. 

Corbett,  A.  Olds,  J. 

Cowan,  G.  M.  Oliver,  C.  M. 

Dorran,  P.  Peters,  D. 

Daniels,  J.  F.  Rusier  C. 

Demmons,  H.  Rice,  W. 

Duignan,  T.  J.  Rice,  C.  D. 

Green,  J.  Sloan,  J. 

Gleason,  E.  D.  Southcott,  W. 

Head,  J.  Smead,  E.  R. 

Head,  T.  Small,  T. 

Leyard,  J.  Weber,  G. — 34. 

President  Lincoln  had  appointed  Colonel  Greene  Brigadier- 
General,  and,  on  the  28th,  the  appointment  was  confirmed  by 


LIFE   IN   BARRACKS.  97 

the  Senate.  Some  delay  occurred  in  sending  his  commission, 
and  I  went  on  to  Washington  for  the  purpose  of  expediting 
the  matter,  and,  if  possible,  of  getting  our  regiment  assigned 
to  his  Brigade.  "  The  commission/'  said  Adjutant-General 
Thomas,  in  a  not  remarkably  agreeable  mariner,  "will  be 
sent  in  due  time.  The  Sixtieth  is  needed  where  it  is;  and 
must  stay  there  I" 

That  was  a  decision  from  pretty  good  authority,  and  we 
proceeded  to  make  our  arrangements  accordingly.  Several 
of  the  officers  sent  for  their  wives ;  all  begun  to  express  their 
preferences  for  the  promotions  likely  to  be  called  for  by  Gen. 
Greene's  departure,  and  officers'  meetings  became  quite  fre 
quent.  There''had  been  some  change  of  opinion  since  the 
petition  at  the  time  of  Colonel  Hayward's  discharge,  but  it 
was  not  deemed  practicable  to  send  any  different  one  to  the 
Governor ;  and  since  it  was  regarded  as  a  foregone  conclusion 
that  Lieutenant-Colonel  Goodrich  and  Major  Brundage  would 
be  promoted,  the  question  of  interest  was,  Who  shall  be  Major  ? 
General  Greene  recommended  the  promotion  of  Adjutant 
Gale,  and  -others  of  the  Field  and  Staff  wrote  to-Albany  in 
his  behalf;  but  that  was  deemed  very  irregular  by  the  Line 
Officers,  since  it  made  no  change  for  them.  Several  unsuc 
cessful  attempts  were  made  by  them  to  unite  on  some  one  in 
the  "Line,"  and  at  last  they  agreed  on  Captain  J.  M.  Hansom, 
a  most  excellent  man  in  every  respect,  but  too  much  a  junior, 
being  out-ranked  by  six  captains,  to  give  consistency  to  the 
plea  that  they  wanted  to  have  such  things  done  in  the  "  regu 
lar"  manner. 

Thus  the  month  of  April  closed,  leaving  us  indulging  in  a 
variety  of  "  great  expectations  !"  I  find  a  record  that  I  mailed 
for  the  regiment  3855  letters  during  the  month. 

From  the  first  to  the  middle  of  May  no  very  great  changes 

were   effected,  and   nothing  important  transpired;  but   soon 

after  that^  Lieutenant-Colonel  Goodrich  received  a  commission 

as  Colonel,  and  Major  Brundage  one  as  Lieutenant-Colonel, 

9 


98  LIFE   IN    BARRACKS. 

giving  them  rank,  in  their  new  positions,  from  May  1st.  , 
General  Greene  received  his  commission  about  the  same  time. 
Before  leaving  the  regiment,  however,  Captain  Iledington  had 
to  appeal  to  him  for  relief  from  a  trouble  in  which  he  was 
then  involved.  There  had  been,  for  some  time,  a  growing  dis 
satisfaction  with  him  in  his  company.  His  men  complained 
that  he  neglected  them,  and  was  too  much  away.  They  there 
fore  petitioned  him  to  resign,  alleging  that  it  appeared  that  he 
had  greater  interest  elsewhere  than  with  the  company,  and 
that  they  could  easily  find  some  one  who  would  be  more  mind 
ful  of  their  welfare.  The  Captain  went  to  Colonel  Greene 
with  the  petition,  and  an  effort  was  made  to  magnify  the 
affair  into  a  case  of  mutiny.  Sergeant  Eastman,  the  leader 
in  the  affair,  was,  with  others,  placed  under  arrest  for  a  time, 
but  no  more  ever  came  of  it.  Perhaps  it  was  best  to  treat 
the  matter  in  this  way,  but  if  Colonel  Hayward's  case  had 
been  determined  so,  it  would  have  made  trouble !  Was  it 
really  any  more  mutinous,  however,  for  a  company  to  ask  its 
Captain  to  resign,  than  for  that  Captain  to  unite  with  his  bro 
ther  officers  in  asking  their  Colonel  to  resign  ? 

On  General  Greene's  leaving  us,  he  issued  the  following 
Order : 

HEADQUARTERS  COxn  REG'T  N.  Y.  S.  VOLS., 

CAMP  MILES,  May  18th,  1802. 
REGIMENTAL  ORDERS,  No.  53. 

Brig.-Gen.  Geo.  S.  Greene  having  been  promoted  from  the  60th 
Regiment  N.  Y.  Vols.  hereby  resigns  the  command  of  the  Regi- 
.  ment  to  Col.  W.  B.  Goodrich,  who  has  been  commissioned  Colo 
nel  of  the  60th  lleg't  N.  Y.  Vols.  by  the  Governor  of  the  State 
of  New  York. 

Brig.-Gen.  Greene  Desires,  before  leaving  the  60th  Regiment 
N.  Y.  Vols.,  to  express  his  pleasure  at  the  improvement  in  the 
Regiment  during  the  time  he  has  had  command  of  it,  and  at  the 
evident  desire  of  officers  and  men  to  fit  themselves  for  good  ser 
vice  for  their  country  in  this  its  hour  of  greatest  trial. 

He  will  always  remember  with  pleasure  his  connection  with  the 


LIFE    IN    BARRACKS.  99 

Regiment,  and  hopes  that  it  may  be  his  good  fortune  to  have  the 
Regiment  again  under  his  command  in  more  active  service. 

With  better  opportunities  for  drill  and  discipline,  the  60th 
Regiment  will  be  inferior  to  none  in  the  service. 

In  conclusion,  the  General  entreats  the  officers  and  men  that 
they  be  temperate  and  steady  in  the  exact  performance  of  their 
duties,  .that  each  one  may  make  his  services  acceptable  to  his 
God  and  his  country. 

GEORGE  S.  GREENE, 

Brigadier-General. 

R.  C.  GALE,  Adjutant. 


The  officers  had  addressed  a  letter  to  the  General,  a  copy  of 
which  I  cannot  find ;  but  it  in  substance  expressed  their  high 
regard  for  him,  their  appreciation  of  his  ability,  an  acknow 
ledgment  of  benefits  received  in  the  connection  now  about  to 
be  dissolved,  and  the  good  wishes  with  which  they  should  fol 
low  him  in  his  new  position  and  honors. 

Governor  Morgan  had  answered  the  question,  Who  shall  be 
Major?  by  sending  us  Edward  C.  James,  son  of  Hon.  A.  B. 
James,  who  arrived  on  the  24th,  having  a  commission  as 
Major  from  May  1st.  Major  James  had  been  for  some 
months  Adjutant  of  the  50th  Regiment  N.  Y.  S.  Vols.,  com 
monly  known  as  the  Engineers'  Regiment.*  His  appearance 
among  us  was  a  surprise,  and  a  disappointment.  "We  did  not 
take  to  him  very  kindly,  for,  in  addition  to  his  spoiling  the 
prospects  both  of  the  il  regular"  and  the  t(  irregular"  candi 
dates,  he  was  right  from  the  field,  and  did  not  much  flatter 
our  opinion  that  we  were  disgraced  by  being  kept  on  the  rail 
road  by  his  assertion  that  any  of  the  regiments  on  the  Penin 
sula  would  jump  at  the  chance  of  an  exchange  of  position  with 
us.  We  were  very  speptical  of  this  at  that  time,  but  were 
strongly  persuaded  to  a  belief  of  it  afterwards. 

I  do  not  remember  that  anything  of  note  occurred  after 

*  See  Chap.  VII. 


100  LIFE    IN    BARRACKS. 

these  changes  had  been  made  until  the  receipt  of  the  follow 
ing  telegraph : 

HEADQUARTERS,  HARPER'S  FERRY, 

11  P.  M.  May  23d,  1862. 
To  COL.  GOODRICH, 

Commanding  60th  N.  Y. 

I  have  telegraphed  for  transportation  for  six  (6)  Companies  of 
your  Regiment  to  join  me  immediately.  Also,  for  four  (4)  Com 
panies  First  (1st)  District  Regiment.  Send  this  to  Beltsville,  to 
Col.  Tait.  A  Company  must  remain  at  Relay.  Detachments  of 
First  District  at  posts.  General  Banks  wants  all  he  can  get. 

D.  S.  MILES, 
Colonel  2d  Infantry, 
Commanding  Railroad  Brigade. 


HARPER'S  FERRY  AND  BOLIVAR,  101 


V. 

HARPER'S  FERRY  AND  BOLIVAR. 

expected  to  leave  the  Relay  on  Saturday,  May  24th, 
but  were  not  called  for.  On  Sunday  morning  we  got  a  rumor 
from  the  railroad  office  that  the  order  to  send  a  train  uj^had 
been  countermanded.  We  therefore  made  arrangements  for 
and  were  engaged  in  religious  services,  when  word  came  that 
the  train  would  be  ready  for  us  at  2  P.  M. 

About  that  hour,  the  train  brought  up  Company  "E,"  from 
Camp  Preston  King,  and  went  on  for  Companies  "  A"  and 
"  K,"  at  Annapolis  Junction,  leaving  us,  meanwhile,  to  get 
our  baggage  and  horses  loaded  on  cars  that  had  been  left  be 
hind  for  that  purpose.  It  was  not  till  6  P.  M.,  that  Com 
panies  "D,"  "F"  and  «H"  joined  those  before  mentioned, 
on  the  cars,  and  started  for  Harper's  Ferry. 

Companies  "  B,"  "  C,"  "  G"  and  "  I  "  were  left  on  railroad 
duty,  under  command  of  Major  James,  with  Dr.  Chambers  to 
look  after  their  bodily  welfare.  The  other  Field  and  Staff 
Officers,  and  also  the  Baud,  were  on  the  cars. 

Although  we  went  away  with  very  cheerful  faces,  and  made 
considerable  noise  in  the  way  of  cheering,  it  was  not  without 
regret  that  many  lost  sight  of  the  Relay.  On  the  whole,  our 
stay  there  had  been  a  pleasant  one.  We  had  formed  agree 
able  acquaintances,  enjoyed  many  visits  from  friends,  and 
several  had  had  the  happiness  to  have  their  families  with  them 
a  good  portion  of  the  time.  Mr.  O'Hern  and  his  pleasant 
9* 


102 

household  will  not  be  forgotten.  Several  of  the  officers  had 
spent  many  happy  hours  in  their  society. 

We  arrived  at  Sandy  Hook,  one  mile  east  of  the  Ferry,  and 
seventy-one  miles  distant  from  the  Relay,  at  3  o'clock  on 
Monday  morning,  with  485  enlisted  men.  Everything  was  in 
confusion  th«re.  No  one  seemed  to  know  what  the  true  state 
of  affairs  was ;  but  most  contradictory  reports  were  freely  cir 
culating.  A  member  of  the  10th  Maine  came  over  and  re 
ported  that  his  regiment  was  wholly  annihilated ;  an#  Banks, 
badly  cut  up,  was  surrounded  beyond  the  hope  of  escape. 
Another,  of  the  same  regiment,  was  as  positive  that  Shields 
had  got  in  the  rear  of  the  rebels,  Banks  had  turned  in  his. 
retreat,  and,  beyond  all  doubt,  the  entire  force  of  the  enemy 
would  soon  be  captured. 

One  thing,  we  found  out  was  very  certain  :  it  mattered  very 
little  whether  we  went  forward  or  turned  back.  The  enemy, 
wherever  he  was,  had  plenty  of  artillery,  we  had  none,  nor 
was  any  to  be  had  at  or  near  the  Ferry.  Until  cannon  could 
be  obtained,  we  were  best  off  where  we  were,  and  if  an  attack 
was  made  at  the  Ferry,  our  friends  there  would  be  compelled 
to  come  to  us. 

We  remained  at  the  Hook  till  the  next  morning.  During 
the  night,  a  Naval  Battery  arrived  from  Washington,  and  was 
put  into  position  on  Maryland  Heights.  Crounse's  and  Rey 
nolds'  Batteries  of  field  artillery  came  in  the  morning,  and 
also  several  regiments  of  infantry,  among  them  the  102d 
New  York,  commanded  by  its  Lieutenant-Colonel,  our  old 
friend  William  B.  Hayward,  who,  having  no  Staff  with  him, 
was  not  only  Commander,  but  Adjutant,  Quartermaster  and 
Commissary !  He  had  hard  work  before  him,  and  plenty  of 
it,  but  we  all  saw  that  he  was  doing  it  thoroughly  and  well. 

At  8  o'clock  in  the  morning,  we  marched  over  to  Harper's 
Ferry.  Up  to  this  time  Colonel  Miles  had  been  in  command. 
Brigadier-General  Saxton  now  arrived  and  relieved  him.  As 
the  troops  crossed  on  the  railroad  bridge,  800  feet  in  length, 


HARPER'S  FERRY  AND  BOLIVAR.  103 

the  scene  was  very  fine.  Our  regiment,  the  Band  playing 
"  Hail  Columbia,"  led  the  column,  and  with  a  firm  and  deter 
mined  step,  We  put  our  feet,  for  the  first  time,  on  the  "  sacred 
soil."  Harper's  Ferry  has  been  so  often  described  that  I  will 
attempt  nothing  of  the  kind,  other  than  to  say  that  it  seemed 
to  me  as  though  it  ought  to  come  up  to  any  man's  ideal  of 
desolation  and  nastiness.  One  could  hardly  realize  that  it 
was  ever  a  flourishing  place,  or  even  decently  clejin ;  but  I 
believe  there  is  a  tradition  to  the  effect  that  it  was  once  neat 
and  prosperous.  The  ruins  of  the  Government  Workshops 
are  a  presumption  in  favor  of  the  latter;  but  I  saw  nothing 
to  indicate  that  the  cleanliness  was  ever  anything  more  than 
a -myth. 

We  made  no  halt  in  the  village,  but  passed  through  and 
out  High  Street,  through  Bolivar  Village,  to  Bolivar  Heights, 
distant  two  miles  from  the  Ferry.  Here  a  line  of  battle  was 
formed,  fronting  the  road  to  Charlestown.  The  60th  was  the 
second  regiment  from  the  right ;  the  78th  New  York  being 
between  us  and  the  Battery. 

Between  9  and  10  o'clock  in  the  evening  we  had  an  alarm 
that  the  rebels  were  coming.  The  line  was  immediately 
formed,  but  no  enemy  appeared.  At  the  same,  time  firing  was 
heard  on  Loudon  Heights,  at  our  rear,  which,  according  to 
the  subsequent  report  of  General  Saxton,  was  an  attack  of 
the  rebel  cavalry  on  two  Companies  of  Maryland  troops, 
who  had  been  sent  out  on  reconnoissance.  One  sergeant  was 
killed.  Finding  that  it  was  a  false  alarm  in  front,  Colonel 
Goodrich  ordered  the  men  to  lie  down  on  their  arms,  and  go 
to  sleep,  seeking  himself  to  give  them  an  example,  success  in 
which  was  prevented  by  the  extreme  nervousness  of  Colonel 
Daniel  TJllman,  of  the  78th,  who  busied  himself  in  whispering 
to  his  men  of  the  terrible  fight  that  might  be  anticipated,  the 
overwhelming  number  of  the  rebels,  and  the  necessity  of  their 
keeping  wide  awake.  -  Occasionally  he  would  come  to  our 
omcers  with  a  little  gratuitous  advice,  which,  according  to  my 


104  HARPER'S  FERRY  AND  BOLIVAR. 

recollection,  was  not  very  gratefully  received,  nor  courteously 
responded  to. 

On  \Yednesday  morning  a  regiment  of  infantry,  one  of 
cavalry,  and  a  section  of  Reynolds'  Battery,  went  out  to 
Charlestown,  on  a  recorinoissance ;  and  the  Naval  Battery,  on 
Maryland  Heights,  threw  a  number  of  shells  over  to  London. 
While  these  things  were  going  on  at  some  distance  from  us, 
the  GOthjmade  an  attack  in  force  on  a  large  hog  who  attempted 
to  pass  through  our  camp,  and,  after  a  great  deal  of  "  skir 
mishing,"  much  "  strategy,"  and  many  "  changes  of  base/' 
he  was  shot  down  directly  in  front  of  the  Colonel's  tent.  The 
animal  was  weighed,  that  in  case  an  owner  called  it  might  be 
paid  for ;  but,  as  no  one  ever  made  any  claim,  the  Subsistence 
Department  got  so  much  gain. 

The  force  that  went  out  towards  Charlestown  drove  the 
rebels  out  of  that  place;  but  they  were  immediately  reinforced, 
and  compelled  our  troops  to  retire.  More  troops  were  sent 
out  to  cover  the  retreat,  which  was  done  in  good  style,  we  only 
losing  one  captain  and  eight  men,  captured  by  the  rebels.  It 
was  reported  by  the  troops  which  came  in  that  the  enemy  was 
rapidly  advancing. 

At  this  time  Brigadier-General  John  P.  Slough  arrived, 
and  took  command  of  our  Brigade,  then  called  the  Second, 
and  composed  of  the  78th  and  60th  N.  Y.,  3d  Delaware,  Pur- 
nell  Legion,  2d  Battalion  1st  Maryland  Cavalry,  and  Battery 
K  1st  N.  Y.  Artillery,  Capt.  Lorenzo  Crounse. 

General  Slough  had  seen  service  in  New  Mexico,  and  had 
gained  honor  as  Colonel  of  the  1st  Colorado  Volunteers, 
having  made  a  forced  march  with  them — an  infantry  regiment 

of  160  miles  in  four  days,  and  fought  the  battle  of  Pidgeon's 

Ranche.  He  detailed  Adjutant  Gale  as  his  Assistant  Adju 
tant-General,  and  Colonel  Goodrich  appointed  Lieutenant  N. 
M.  Dickinson  to  act  as  Regimental  Adjutant. 

Anticipating  an  attack,  we  formed  a  new  line  of  battle,  and 
waited  for  the  rebels,  but  saw  nothing- of  them,  except  a  small 


HARPER'S  FERRY  AND  BOLIVAR.  105 

body  of  cavalry,  which  occasionally  emerged  from  a  point  of 
woods  about  two  miles  up  the  road.  We  shelled  the  woods, 
but  got  no  response.  Our  troops  slept  on  their  arms  that 
night,  and  had  no  disturbance. 

The  next  morning  our  pickets  were  driven  in,  the  enemy 
opening  on  them  with  artillery  and  infantry.  We  prepared 
again  to  receive  them  should  they  advance;  but,  after  waiting 
two  or  three  hours,  and  not  seeing  anything  of  them,  a  squad 
ron  of  cavalry  was  sent  out  to  ascertain  their  position.  When 
near  Halltown,  about  four  miles  out,  they  were  suddenly  fired 
upon  by  a  battery  concealed  in  a  point  of  woods,  and  beat  a 
hasty  retreat,  followed  by  the  rebels  to  within  two  miles  of 
camp.  The  battery  on  our  right  opened  on  the  rebels,  and 
for  several  minutes  they  returned  the  fire,  but  their  shot  fell 
far  short  of  us. 

At  11  o'clock  ;in  the  evening,  as  everything  was  quiet,  I 
rolled  myself  in  my  blankets,  and  went  to  sleep,  but  was 
wakened  in  about  an  hour  after  by  Colonel  Goodrich,  who  in 
formed  me  that  we  were  about  to  change  our  position. 

The  First  Brigade,  under  General  Cooper,  went  over  to  Mary 
land  Heights,  and  the  Second  took  position  on  Camp  Hill. 
The  baggage  train  covered  the  retreat — a  new  arrangement  in 
military  affairs,  but  Robertson  was  courageous,  and  the  thing 
was  done  in  splendid  style.  Our  Quartermaster  was  at  this 
time  at  the  Ferry,  assisting  a  venerable  Saint,*  who  found 
the  sudden  pressure  at  the  Commissary  Department  too  much 
for  his  infirmities. 

Camp  Hill  was  immediately  above  the  village  of  Harper's 
Ferry,  and  its  occupation,  according  to  General  Saxton,  pre 
sented  a  two-fold  advantage :  first,  that  being  much  less  ex 
tended,  it  could  be  held  by  a  smaller  force,  the  enemy,  from 

*  Daniel  Saint,  a  very  pleasant  old  gentleman,  who  had  suf 
fered  in  the  loss  of  his  property  in  Florida  by  the  rebels,  was, 
from  sympathy,  made  a  Commissary. 


102  HARPER'S  FERRY  AND  BOLIVAR. 

household  will  not  be  forgotten.     Several  of  the  officers  had 
spent  many  happy  hours  in  their  society. 

We  arrived  at  Sandy  Hook,  one  mile  east  of  the  Ferry,  and 
seventy-one  miles  distant  from  the  Relay,  at  3  o'clock  on 
Monday  morning,  with  485  enlisted  men.  Everything  was  in 
confusion  th«re.  No  one  seemed  to  know  what  the  true  state 
of  affairs  was ;  but  most  contradictory  reports  were  freely  cir 
culating.  A  member  of  the  10th  Maine  came  over  and  re 
ported  that  his  regiment  was  wholly  annihilated ;  anc^  Banks, 
badly  cut  up,  was  surrounded  beyond  the  hope  of  escape. 
Another,  of  the  same  regiment,  was  as  positive  that  Shields 
had  got  in  the  rear  of  the  rebels,  Banks  had  turned  in  hia 
retreat,  and,  beyond  all  doubt,  the  entire  force  of  the  enemy 
would  soon  be  captured. 

One  thing,  we  found  out  was  very  certain  :  it  mattered  very 
little  whether  we  went  forward  or  turned  back.  The  enemy, 
wherever  he  was,  had  plenty  of  artillery,  we  had  none,  nor 
was  any  to  be  had  at  or  near  the  Ferry.  Until  cannon  could 
be  obtained,  we  were  best  off  where  we  were,  and  if  an  attack 
was  made  at  the  Ferry,  our  friends  there  would  be  compelled 
to  come  to  us. 

We  remained  at  the  Hook  till  the  next  morning.  During 
the  night,  a  Naval  Battery  arrived  from  Washington,  and  was 
put  into  position  on  Maryland  Heights.  Crounse's  and  Rey 
nolds'  Batteries  of  field  artillery  came  in  the  morning,  and 
also  several  regiments  of  infantry,  among  them  the  102d 
New  York,  commanded  by  its  Lieutenant-Colonel,  our  old 
friend  William  B.  Hayward,  who,  having  no  Staff  with  him, 
was  not  only  Commander,  but  Adjutant,  Quartermaster  and 
Commissary !  He  had  hard  work  before  him,  and  plenty  of 
it,  but  we  all  saw  that  he  was  doing  it  thoroughly  and  well. 

At  8  o'clock  in  the  morning,  we  marched  over  to  Harper's 
Ferry.  Up  to  this  time  Colonel  Miles  had  been  in  command. 
Brigadier-General  Saxton  now  arrived  and  relieved  him.  As 
the  troops  crossed  on  the  railroad  bridge,  800  feet  in  length, 


HARPER'S  FERRY  AND  BOLIVAR.  103 

the  scene  was  very  fine.  Our  regiment,  the  Band  playing 
"  Hail  Columbia,"  led  the  column,  and  with  a  firm  and  deter 
mined  step,  we  put  our  feet,  for  the  first  time,  on  the  u  sacred 
soil."  Harper's  Ferry  has  been  so  often  described  that  I  will 
attempt  nothing  of  the  kind,  other  than  to  say  that  it  seemed 
to  me  as  though  it  ought  to  come  up  to  any  man's  ideal  of 
desolation  and  nastiness.  One  could  hardly  realize  that  it 
was  ever  a  flourishing  place,  or  even  decently  clejan;  but  I 
believe  there  is  a  tradition  to  the  effect  that  it  was  once  neat 
and  prosperous.  The  ruins  of  the  Government  Workshops 
are  a  presumption  in  favor  of  the  latter;  but  I  saw  nothing 
to  indicate  that  the  cleanliness  was  ever  anything  more  than 
a -myth. 

We  made  no  halt  in  the  village,  but  passed  through  and 
out  High  Street,  through  Bolivar  Village,  to  Bolivar  Heights, 
distant  two  miles  from  the  Ferry.  Here  a  line  of  battle  was 
formed,  fronting  the  road  to  Charlestown.  The  60th  was  the 
second  regiment  from  the  right;  the  78th  New  York  being 
between  us  and  the  Battery. 

Between  9  and  10  o'clock  in  the  evening  we  had  an  alarm 
that  the  rebels  were  coming.  The  line  was  immediately 
formed,  but  no  enemy  appeared.  At  the  same,  time  firing  was 
heard  on  Loudon  Heights,  at  our  rear,  which,  according  to 
the  subsequent  report  of  General  Saxton,  was  an  attack  of 
the  rebel  cavalry  on  two  Companies  of  Maryland  troops, 
who  had  been  sent  out  on  reconnoissanee.  One  sergeant  was 
killed.  Finding  that  it  was  a  false  alarm  in  front,  Colonel 
Goodrich  ordered  the  men  to  lie  down  on  their  arms,  and  go 
to  sleep,  seeking  himself  to  give  them  an  example,  success  in 
which  was  prevented  by  the  extreme  nervousness  of  Colonel 
Daniel  Ullman,  of  the  78th,  who  busied  himself  in  whispering 
to  his  men  of  the  terrible  fight  that  might  be  anticipated,  the 
overwhelming  number  of  the  rebels,  and  the  necessity  of  their 
keeping  wide  awake.  -  Occasionally  he  would  come  to  our 
officers  with  a  little  gratuitous  advice,  which,  according  to  my 


104  HARPER'S  FERRY  AND  BOLIVAR. 

recollection,  was  not  very  gratefully  received,  nor  courteously 
responded  to. 

On  Wednesday  morning  a  regiment  of  infantry,  one  of 
cavalry,  and  a  section  of  Reynolds'  Battery,  went  out  to 
Charlestown,  on  a  recorinoissance }  and  the  Naval  Battery,  on 
Maryland  Heights,  threw  a  number  of  shells  over  to  London. 
While  these  things  were  going  on  at  some  distance  from  us, 
the  GOthjnade  an  attack  in  force  on  a  large  hog  who  attempted 
to  pass  through  our  camp,  and,  after  a  great  deal  of  "  skir 
mishing,"  much  "  strategy,"  and  many  "  changes  of  base/' 
he  was  shot  down  directly  in  front  of  the  Colonel's  tent.  The 
animal  was  weighed,  that  in  case  an  owner  called  it  might  be 
paid  for ;  but,  as  no  one  ever  made  any  claim,  the  Subsistence 
Department  got  so  much  gain. 

The  force  that  went  out  towards  Charlestown  drove  the 
rebels  out  of  that  place ;  but  they  were  immediately  reinforced, 
and  compelled  our  troops  to  retire.  More  troops  were  sent 
out  to  cover  the  retreat,  which  was  done  in  good  style,  we  only 
losing  one  captain  and  eight  men,  captured  by  the  rebels.  It 
was  reported  by  the  troops  which  came  in  that  the  enemy  was 
rapidly  advancing. 

At  this  time  Brigadier-General  John  P.  Slough  arrived, 
and  took  command  of  our  Brigade,  then  called  the  Second, 
and  composed  of  the  78th  and  60th  N.  Y.,  3d  Delaware,  Pur- 
nell  Legion,  2d  Battalion  1st  Maryland  Cavalry,  and  Battery 
K  1st  N.  Y.  Artillery,  Capt.  Lorenzo  Crounse. 

General  Slough  had  seen  service  in  New  Mexico,  and  had 
gained  honor  as  Colonel  of  the  1st  Colorado  Volunteers, 
having  made  a  forced  march  with  them — an  infantry  regiment 

of  160  miles  in  four  days,  and  fought  the  battle  of  Pidgeon's 

llanche.  He  detailed  Adjutant  Gale  as  his  Assistant  Adju 
tant-General,  and  Colonel  Goodrich  appointed  Lieutenant  N. 
M.  Dickinson  to  act  as  Regimental  Adjutant. 

Anticipating  an  attack,  we  formed  a  new  line  of  battle,  and 
waited  for  the  rebels,  but  saw  nothing- of  them,  except  a  small 


HARPER'S  FERRY  AND  BOLIVAR.  105 

body  of  cavalry,  which  occasionally  emerged  from  a  point  of 
woods  about  two  miles  up  the  road.  W.e  shelled  the  woods, 
but  got  no  response.  Our  troops  slept  on  their  arms  that 
night,  and  had  no  disturbance. 

The  next  morning  our  pickets  were  driven  in,  the  enemy 
opening  on  them  with  artillery  and  infantry.  We  prepared 
again  to  receive  them  should  they  advance;  but,  after  waiting 
two  or  three  hours,  and  not  seeing  anything  of  them,  a  squad 
ron  of  cavalry  was  sent  out  to  ascertain  their  position.  When 
near  Halltown,  about  four  miles  out,  they  were  suddenly  fired 
upon  by  a  battery  concealed  in  a  point  of  woods,  and  beat  a 
hasty  retreat,  followed  by  the  rebels  to  within  two  miles  of 
camp.  The  battery  on  our  right  opened  on  the  rebels,  and 
for  several  minutes  they  returned  the  fire,  but  their  shot  fell 
far  short  of  us. 

At  11  o'clock;in  the  evening,  as  everything  was  quiet,  I 
rolled  myself  in  my  blankets,  and  went  to  sleep,  but  was 
wakened  in  about  an  hour  after  by  Colonel  Goodrich,  who  in 
formed  me  that  we  were  about  to  change  our  position. 

The  First  Brigade,  under  General  Cooper,  went  over  to  Mary 
land  Heights,  and  the  Second  took  position  on  Camp  Hill. 
The  baggage  train  covered  the  retreat — a  new  arrangement  in 
military  affairs,  but  Robertson  was  courageous,  and  the  thing 
was  done  in  splendid  style.  Our  Quartermaster  was  at  this 
time  at  the  Ferry,  assisting  a  venerable  Saint,*  who  found 
the  sudden  pressure  at  the  Commissary  Department  too  much 
for  his  infirmities. 

Camp  Hill  was  immediately  above  the  village  of  Harper's 
Ferry,  and  its  occupation,  according  to  General  Saxton,  pre 
sented  a  two-fold  advantage :  first,  that  being  much  less  ex 
tended,  it  could  be  held  by  a  smaller  force,  the  enemy,  from 

*  Daniel  Saint,  a  very  pleasant  old  gentleman,  who  had  suf 
fered  in  the  loss  of  his  property  in  Florida  by  the  rebels,  was, 
from  sympathy,  made  a  Commissary. 


106 

the  nature  of  the  ground,  being  unable  to  bring  into  action  a 
larger  force  than  our  own  j  secondly,  that  it  would  enable  us 
to  bring  our  Naval  Battery  on  the  Maryland  Heights  to  bear 
upon  the  enemy  as  they  advanced  down  the  declivity  of  Boli 
var  Heights  into  the  valley  which  separates  it  from  Camp 
Hill.  They  would  thus  be  exposed  for  a  considerable  time  to 
a  heavy  fire  from  this  formidable  battery,  whose  great  eleva 
tion  would  enable  it  to  throw  shells  directly  over  the  heads  of 
our  own  forces  on  Camp  Hill  into  the  faces  of  the  advancing 
foe. 

On  Friday,  we  sent  out  a  large  body  of  sharpshooters  from 
our  regiment,  to  support  a  section  of  battery,  and  ascertain, 
if  possible,  the  position  and  strength  of  the  rebels.  As  they 
showed  themselves  on  Bolivar,  the  enemy  opened  a  fire  of 
musketry  from  the  entire  length  of  their  line,  which  was 
promptly  responded  to  by  the  rifles,  and  with  grape  and  canis 
ter  from  the  cannon. '  What  damage,  if  any,  was  done  the 
rebels,  I  never  heard ;  but  all  they  effected  on  us  was  to  hit 
the  hub  of  one  of  our  caisson  wheels  with  a  six-pound  round 
shot,  and  slightly  scratch  a  finger  of  one  of  the  members  of 
Company  "  A,"  with  a  stone  thrown  up  by  a  bursting  shell. 

Some  time  in  the  afternoon,  the  pickets  were  called  in,  and 
word  sent  to  the  citizens  of  Bolivar  that  they  would  all  be 
required  to  come  within  our  lines  by  sunset,  as  the  place 
would,  in  all  probability,  be  shelled  in  the  evening. 

As  night  approached,  it  began  to  rain ;  and  'the  darkness 
came  on'swiftly.  The  rebels'  signal-lights  were  numerous  and 
constant.  It  was  supposed  by  General  Saxton  that  the  rebels 
had  crossed  the  Heights,  and  were  advancing  on  us.  General 
Slough  opened  on  them,  from  Camp  Hill,  with  two  batteries, 
and  the  heavy  guns  on  Maryland  Heights  sent  their  large 
shells  over  our  heads.  It  was  one  of  the  most  magnificent 
and  impressive  scenes  one  could  ever  witness !  The  rain  fell 
in  torrents;  the  frequent  and  dazzling  lightning  lit  up  the 
giant  mountains  on  either  side,  while  the  crash  of  thunder 


HARPER'S  FERRY  AND  BOLIVAR.  107 

echoing  with  terrific  power  among  the  hills,  drowned  into  com 
parative  insignificance  the  roar  of  our  artillery.  One-half  of 
our  men  sought  shelter  and  sleep,  while  the  others  stood  in 
line,  ready  for  action;  and  so  they  alternated  eve/y  three 
hours  during  the  night.  After  the  firing  was  over,  I  disposed 
of  myself  on  the  "  soft  side  of  a  board"  in  an  old  building 
which  the  Band  had  taken  possession  of,  and  got  through 
the  night  in  a  tolerably  comfortable  manner. 

Saturday  was  occupied  in  a  reconnoissance,  chiefly  by  the 
cavalry,  supported  by  sharpshooters.  They  scoured  the  coun 
try  around  for  a  distance  of  four  or  five  miles,  but  found  no 
enemy.  It  was  evident,  however,  where  their  line  of  battle 
had  been  the  night  before,  and  that  a  shell  from  the  Naval 
Battery  had  fallen  on  their  centre. 

Late  in  the  afternoon,  our  baggage,  which  had  been  put  on 
the  cars  and  taken  across  the  river,  was  brought  back,  and  we 
put  up  tents,  expecting  a  comfortable  night;  but  just  to  wards 
evening,  it  was  reported  that  two  of  our  cavalry  had  deserted 
to  the  enemy,  and  it  became  necessary  that  we  should  be  on 
duty  to  guard  against  surprise.  It  was  another  stormy  night, 
and  very  uncomfortable,  so  that,  although  the  next  day  was 
Sunday,  it  did  not  seem  right  that  the  men,  after  being  ob 
liged  to  spend  most  of  the  forenoon  in  cleaning  their  rifles  and 
attending  to  inspection,  should  also  be  compelled  to  attend 
religious  service.  The  remaining  hours  of  the  day  were 
literally,  and,  I  believe,  properly  devoted  to  rest. 

The  month  of  May  closed  with  Saturday,  and  I  find  a 
record  that  during  May  I  mailed  5283  letters.  After  this 
time  I  was  not  able  to  keep  any  postal  register,  owing  to  the 
irregularity  of  the  mails.  My  custom  was  to  write  to  my 
family  every  day,  and  to  forward  the  letters  as  fast  as  oppor 
tunity  offered,  being  sometimes  compelled  to  keep  them  on 
hand  two  or  three  weeks. 

From  the  pages  of  that  record,  I  now  draw  for  most  of  what 
follows. 


108  THE    SHENANDOAH    VALLEY. 


VI. 
THE  SHENANDOAH  VALLEY. 

ON  Monday,  June  2d,  Major-General  Franz  Sigel  arrived 
at  Harper's  Ferry,  and  took  command  of  the  forces,  Gen. 
Saxton  returning  to  Washington.  The  previous  night  had 
been  quiet,  the  men  were  rested,  in  good  health  and  spirits, 
and  enthusiastic  on  receipt  of  the  order  designating  4  P.  M.  as 
the  hour  to  commence  a  march  up  the  Valley. 

The  teams  were  to  be  loaded  with  rations,  and  ten  men  from 
each  Company  were  left  under  charge  of  Lieut.  Spencer  to 
guard  the  tents  and  personal  baggage  we  could  not  then  take 
with  us. 

We  were  ready  at  the  time  appointed,  but  a  delay  occurred 
somewhere,  and  it  was  8  o'clock  before  we  received  the  final 
order  to  u  Fall  in."  Meanwhile,  for  two  hours  it  had  been 
raining  in  torrents.  On  the  average  the  mud  was  ankle-deep, 
and  in  many  places  tested  the  resisting  quality  of  some  of  the 
longest-topped  boots. 

"  This  will  be  tough  for  the  men,"  said  an  Aid,  addressing 
himself  to  the  General.  "  Yes,"  replied  Sigel,  with  a  strong 
foreign  accent,  "  but  we  must  get  accustomed  to  it." 

We  moved  slowly,  and  soon  wearily.  When  about  five  miles 
out,  and  at  about  midnight,  we  came  to  a  halt,  temporarily, 
as  we  supposed,  but  we  remained  there  till  morning.  It  was 
too  dark  to  make  any  choice  of  resting  place ;  we  therefore 
lay  down  wherever  the  mud  seemed  shallowest,  and  got  such 
snatches  of  sleep  as  the  circumstances  would  allow. 

At  daylight  the  march  was  resumed.  Charlestown,  five  miles  • 
from  the  Ferry,  was  reached  about  7  o'clock.  There  were 


THE   SHENANDOAH    VALLEY.  109 

many  sour-faced  inhabitants  visible.  John  Brown  had  been 
hung  there,  and  as  our  troops  remembered  it  and  sung  lustily, 
"  His  soul  goes  Marching  on,"  it  was  not  noticed  that  their 
comfort  was  materially  increased.  A  short  halt  was  made  here, 
improved  by  the  men  in  filling  their  canteens,  and  by  a  num 
ber  of  the  mounted  officers  in  looking  about  the  place.  The 
population  is  estimated,  I  believe,  at  1500,  and  the  village  is 
very  prettily  built  up.  The  place  is  named  for  Col.  Charles 
Washington,  brother  of  the  General,  who  formerly  owned  the 
land. 

At  3  P.  M.,  we  had  marched  four  miles  further  south,  and 
came  to  a  halt  for  the  day  at  a  place  called  Smithfield.  Here 
we  formed  two  lines,  one  to  the  front  and  one  to  the  rear  of 
our  camp ;  and  as  all  were  both  hungry  and  sleepy,  meals 
were  hurriedly  eaten,  and  sleep  soon  became  general.  Before 
dark,  however,  it  began  to  rain  again,  and  for  twenty-four  hours 
it  came  down  in  uninterrupted  torrents.  It  was  hard  to  get 
"  accustomed  "  to  it,  but  nothing  else  was  left  us. 

Shortly  after  daylight  we  pushed  on.  The  sudden  and 
severe  exposure  had  deranged  all  my  physical  functions,  and 
made  me  very  weak.  Dr.  Gale  administered  a  powerful  as 
tringent  in  a  strong  stimulant,  and  temporary  relief  followed, 
but  we  had  hardly  gone  a  mile,  before,  at  a  temporary  halt 
under  a  covered  bridge,  I  had  premonition  of  fainting,  and 
pushing  out  into  the  rain,  would  have  fallen  from  my  horse, 
had  not  the  troops  standing  about  caught  me.  A  draught 
from  Capt.  Godard's  camphor-bottle  set  me  to  rights.  When 
Bonney  came  up  with  the  ambulance,  I  gave  him  my  horse 
to  ride,  and  took  his  place  as  driver.  The  rain  made  over 
coats  and  blankets  wet  and  heavy,  so  oppressively  so  that  many 
commenced  throwing  them  away  early  in  the  day,  and  soon 
the  road  was  strewia  with  them.  Many  knapsacks  shared  the 
same  fate,  and  as  the  sand  washed  into  the  men's  shoes  and 
stockings,  a  great  many  found  relief  in  being  barefooted,  and 
dropped  shoes  and  stockings  wherever  they  could  get  them 
10 


110  THE   SHENANDOAH    VALLEY. 

off!  The  Opequan  and  Abraham  creeks  were  lx>th  forded. 
Ordinarily  accomplished  dry-shod  by  stepping  from  rock  to 
rock,  but  now  so  swollen  by  the  rains,  that  the  best  the  men 
could  do  was  to  pass  through  where  it  was  waist-deep. 

At  starting  in  the  morning,  two  regiments  of  infantry  were 
in  advance  of  the  Sixtieth,  but  by  noon  so  many  had  fallen 
out,  that  Glen.  Sigel  ordered  us  to  push  past  the  few  who  re 
mained  in  our  advance,  and  to  take  and  retain  position  im 
mediately  in  rear  of  the  Battery.  The  order  was  obeyed,  and 
the  regiment  received  much  praise  from  the  General  for  its 
efficiency  and  discipline. 

At  four  P.  M.  we  entered  Winchester,  having  marched 
fourteen  miles  literally  through  mud  and  water  since  morning. 
The  loyal  citizens  received  us  with  enthusiasm,  the  rebel  por 
tion  peeped  at  us  through  closed  shutters. 

Our  regiment  was  quartered  in  the  City  Hall,  a  large  two- 
story  building,  where  we'found  rest.  Some  upper  rooms  in  a  row 
of  buildings  north  of  the  hall,  the  former  occupants  of  which 
are  in  the  rebel  service,  were  taken  by  the  Field  and  Staff 
officers,  and  for  Hospital  purposes.  One  of  these  rooms  was 
filled  with  tobacco,  which  the  soldiers  soon  appropriated  to 
their  own  use.  Some  of  it,  I  believe,  found  its  way  to  St. 
Lawrence  Co.,  as  did  also  a  large  number  .of  law  books,  the 
property  of  an  attorney,  then  an  officer  in  the  rebel  army. 

General  Stonewall  Jackson  and  his  forces  had  evacuated 
the  city  the  previous  Saturday,  taking  with  them  a  large  num 
ber  of  prisoners.  All  our  own  wounded — those  injured  in 
General  Banks'  retreat — were  left  behind,  as  were  a  great 
number  of  sick  and  wounded  rebels.  Of  the  former,  I  at 
tended  the  funerals  of  eight  during  our  stay  in  the  city.* 


*  II.  Bosmore,  2d  Massachusetts ;  J.  Terwilliger,  T.  M.  Ken- 
ney,  Andrew  flitchie,  46th  Pennsylvania;  Arnold  Kyler,  84th 
Pennsylvania;  W.  Liinburger,  1st  Maryland;  Robert  Hasten, 
62d  Ohio;  II.  Albright,  27th  Indiana. 


I 

THE  SHENANDOAH  VALLEY.  Ill 

The  60th  was  detailed  to  assist  the  Provost  Marshal  in 
keeping  order  in  the  city.  The  day  after  our  arrival  a 
large  force  was  sent  out  on  a  general  scouting  expedition. 
From  all  directions  of  the  country  round  they  brought  in 
prisoners,  guns,  ammunition,  Confederate  flags,  and  other  con 
cealed  rebel  property.  Many  wounded  rebel  officers  were 
found  in  private  houses;  and  a  large  amount  of  property 
stolen  from  General  Banks  was  recovered. 

For  several  days,  until  the  depredations  on  the  railroad  could 
be  repaired,  all  our  subsistence  stores  were  brought  by  teams 
from  the  Ferry.  Not  much  could  be  bought  in  Winchester, 
and  the  officers,  not  allowed  to  draw  from  the  men's  rations, 
found  it  difficult  to  obtain  all  the  necessaries  of  life.  We 
therefore  anticipated  Pope's  famous  order,  and,  for  a  while, 
lived  on  the  country.  Lyman.  Root  probably  remembers  the 
nice  fat  hens  which  he  and  Clark  brought  down  with  their 
pistols. 

On  the  6th,  the  troops  were  all  paraded  in  front  of  their 
quarters,  for  the  purpose  of  welcoming  the  returning  column 
of  General  Banks,  the  vanguard  of  which  marched  in  late  in 
the  afternoon,  and  were  greeted  with  a  reception  which  was, 
J  believe,  as  acceptable  to  them  as  it  was  heart-felt  in  those 
who  gave  it.  The  same  evening  our  Band  gave  a  serenade 
to  Generals  Sigel  and  Slough,  both  of  whom  made  responsive 
speeches.  I  have  lost  the  notes  taken  on  the  occasion,  but 
very  well  remember  that  Captain  Godard  was  particular  to 
remind  me  not  to  forget  the  closing  remarks,  which  made  such, 
special  reference  to  the  good  things  to  be  had  by  going  up 
stairs  ! 

The  day  following  General  Sigel  reviewed  the  First  Bri 
gade — General  Cooper's — which  was  encamped  about  two 
miles  soutfi  of  us.  Several  of  the  Second  Brigade  went  out 
to  witness  it.  The  troops  made  a  very  fine  appearance. 

The  next  day  was  Sunday.  General  Slough  sent  his  Adju 
tant  over  to  request  me  to  occupy  a  church,  if  possible,  and, 


112  THE    SHKNANDOAH    VALLEY. 

if  a  vacant  one  was  found,  to  take  possession.  Search  was 
made,  but  all  fit  for  use  were  occupied.  The  regiment,  there 
fore,  paraded  yi  the  City  Hall  yard,  and  the  Band  and  myself 
occupied  the  steps.  A  few  citizens  gathered  round,  several 
from  other  regiments  joined  us,  and  we  held  an  appropriate, 
and,  I  trust,  a  profitable  service.  Prayer  was  offered,  hymns 
sung,  solemn  music  played,  Psalm  xxxiv.  was  read,  and  such 
remarks  as  it  suggested  followed. 

On  Monday  I  obtained  leave  of  absence  for  five  days,  and 
started  for  Baltimore,  chiefly  to  accomplish  two  things — to 
send  North  some  $2,500  the  men  had  retained  from  their  last 
pay,  and  were  now  anxious  to  place  where  it  could  do  the  most 
good ;  and  also  to  see  if  I  could  not,  either  in  Baltimore  or 
Washington,  bring  such  influences  to  bear  as  would  result  in 
having  our  four  Companies,  still  remaining  at  the  Relay,  join 
us  in  the  field.  Major  James  was  telegraphed  to  meet  me  on 
the  road,  and  we  arranged  for  a  conference  with  Gen.  Wool. 
On  Wednesday  we  obtained  an  interview  with  his  Assistant 
Adjutant-General,  who,  after  showing  us  that  they  had  no 
authority  to  order  the  four  Companies  to  march,  forwarded  a 
letter,  written  by  Major  James,  to  the  War  Department— the 
letter  containing  a  statement  of  the  facts  of  the  case,  and  of 
the  strong  desire  of  all  in  the  Regiment  that  the  command 
should  be  brought  together.  Nothing  ever  came  of  it. 

On  the  14th,  I  reported  again  to  the  Regiment.  The 
weather  was  intensely  hot,  and,  as  the  last  eleven  miles  of  the 
journey  were  performed  on  foot,  and  I  had  quite  a  load  to 
carry,  and  two  deep  streams  to  ford,  I  got  some  notion  of  what 
inarching  was.  The  Regimen-t  had  moved  camp  during  my 
absence,  and  I  found  them  at  Camp  Sigel,  on  a  very  pleasant 
ground,  two  miles  south  of  the  village. 

Considerable  fear  was  entertained  that  the  rebels^would  get 
in  our  rear.  A  council  of  war  was  held.  General  Sigel's  de 
cision  was  :  "  We  must  not  go  back — our  honor  is  on  it ;  we 
must  go  forward."  Company  II,  of  the  60th,  was  sent  eighteen 


THE    SHENANDOAH    VALLEY.  113 

miles  east,  to  Snicker's  Ferry,  to  watch  the  movements  of 
the  enemy  there ;  and  on  the  16th  we  got  orders  to  be  in  rea 
diness  to  march  at  8  o'clock  the  next  morning.  The  teams 
were  sent  to  Harper's  Ferry  for  our  baggage,  and  we  all  cheer 
fully  got  ready  for  a  move,  except  the  Band.  Mr.  Wright, 
the  leader,  had  just  got  back  from  a  brief  trip  to  Baltimore, 
and  his  men  were  unanimous  in  their  entreaties  to  him  to  get 
the .  Colonel's  consent  to  their  discharge.  Subsequently  he 
made  the  attempt,  but  failed,  of  course.  During  the  rest  of 
their  stay  with  us  they  were  very  much  discontented.  With 
out  intending  them  any  injustice,  I  here  record  what  I  several 
times  said  to  them  in  person :  they  complained  without  just 
cause ;  their  exposures  were  no  more  than  fell  to  the  lot  of 
their  companions;  their  duties  not  as  arduous,  nor  their  hard 
ships  near  so  great.  Their  music  never  sounded  half  so  sweet 
at  any  time  when  we  were  in  permanent  camp  and  barracks 
as  it  did  at  the  close  of  a  weary  march,  at  evening  parade,  or 
in  the  Sabbath  service,  or  at  the  burial  of  the  dead.  They 
did  not  fully  appreciate  its  power  under  such  circumstances, 
but  others  felt  and  owned  its  soothing  and  ennobling  influence. 
I  regret  the  unwillingness  with  which  they  continued  with  us, 
but  more  deeply  deplore  the  mistaken  economy  of  the  Govern 
ment  in  discharging  the  Regimental  Bands. 

Our  march,  on  the  17th,  was  a  very  pleasant  one.  It  was 
through  a  rich  agricultural  region,  grain  waving  all  around 
us,  and  sweet  perfumes,  from  beautiful  fields  of  clover  in  full 
blossom,  filling  the  air.  Concerning  the  early  settlement  of 
that  region,  I  find  the  following  on  record : 

"  The  first  German  settler  who  came  to  Virginia  was  one  Jacob 
Stover,  who  went  there  from  Pennsylvania,  and  obtained  a  grant 
of  five  thousand  acres  of  land  on  the  Shenandoah.  The  story 
runs  that,  on  his  application  to  the  Colonial  Governor  of  Virginia 
for  a  grant  of  land,  he  was  refused,  unless  he  could  give  satisfac 
tory  assurance  that  he  would  have  the  land  settled  with  the 
required  number  of  families  within  a  given  time.  Being  un 
able  to  do  this,  he  went  over  to  England,  and  petitioned  the 
10* 


116  THE   SHENANDOAH   VALLEY. 

slave  ^ oman  in  the  kitchen  had  also  a  child  of  about  the  same 
age,  and  bearing  a  near  resemblance  to  the  white  woman's 
baby.  Frequently  the  wife  beat  the  slave,  and  while  we  were 
there  she  had  been  most  shamefully  whipped.  On  leaving 
the  place  Gen.  Slough  reminded  the  family  that  .they  might 
some  day  expect  him  to  return,  and  that  a  general  skinning 
would  follow  if  he  should  learn  that  they  continued  the 
practice  of  their  barbarities. 

It  became  necessary  for  us  to  draw  on  the  citizens  for  for 
age,  during  our  stay  in  that  neighborhood,  and  in  two  in 
stances  I  accompanied  Litut.  Gleason,  Acting  Quartermaster, 
and  Commissary-Sergeant  Kobertson,  in  search  of  it.  Our 
first  visit  was  to  the  farm  of  an  ancient  woman,  who,  while 
we  were  taking  some  corn  from  the  crib,  took  occasion  to 
lecture  us  on  our  sins,  and  on  the  fate  that  awaited  us,  and 
the  Federal  soldiers  generally,  at  the  day  of  judgment.  Ro 
bertson  and  myself  being  satisfied  with  the  recompense  of 
the  present,  attended  to  the  duties  of  the  hour  alone,  only  ad 
dressing  the  old  lady  from  time  to  time  with  the  respect  due 
to  her  years,  and  even  exceeding  the  ordinary  requirements 
of  civility,  by  calling  her  mother.  But  Gleason  fell  in  with 
her  theory,  but  differing  in  its  application,  they  administered 
consolation  to  each  other  by  assigning,  the  one  the  Federals, 
and  the  other  the  rebels,  to  eternal  perdition  ! 

We  were  anxious  to  obtain  some  butter  for  our  own  use, 
and  would  gladly  have  paid  any  reasonable  price  for  a  few 
pounds.  The  old  lady  insisted,  however,  that  she  had  none, 
not  even  enough  for  her  own  table.  At  this  juncture,  the 
daughter,  who  had  been  to  Middletown  to  obtain  a  safeguard, 
reached  home.  She  was  very  furious  in  her  feelings,  and  de 
cidedly  emphatic  in  expressing  them.  "  Oh,  if  I  only  had  a 
pistol,  how  quick  I  would  shoot  you  !"  said  she.  With  the 
courtesy  and  gallantry  becoming  the  chivalrous  State  in  which 
we  spoke,  we  tendered  her  the  use  of  our  own,  but  she  spurned 
our  offer  ! 


THE  SHENANDOAH  VALLEY.  117 

Soon  she  discovered  that  the  drivers,  who  had  gone  to  the 
spring  house  for  a  drink  of  wattr,  had  found  and  taken  some 
butter,  and  with  great  indignation  she  reproached  us  that  not 
being  content  with  taking  a  poor  woman's  corn,  we  also  allowed 
our  men  to  steal  butter.  Our  first  impulse  was  to  order  the 
men  to  return  it,  but  Gleason  concurring  with  us  in  the  pro 
priety  of  applying  in  this  instance  the  theory  of  present 
recompense,  we  rendered  judgment  thus  : 

Mother  has  said  that  she  has-  no  butter.  We  ought  not  to 
question  her  veracity.  This,  therefore,  is  not  hers;  and  since 
we  want  butter,  and  are  willing  to  pay  for  it,  we  will  add  more 
to  this  and  take  it  to  camp,  and  when  the  owner  appears,  all 
claims  shall  be  satisfied. 

No  one  called  on  us  for  pay,  but  perhaps  a  demand  may  be 
made  on  the  Government  at  the  same  time  the  bill  for  the 
corn  is  presented,  the  latter  to  be  paid  for,  according  to  the 
receipt  we  gave,  a  on  proof  of  the  loyalty  of  the  owner." 

Returning  from  this  excursion,  we  stopped  for  a  moment's 
rest  at  the  residence  of  a  woman  whose  husband  had  been 
taken  south  for  refusal  to  bear  arms  against  the  United  States. 
She  informed  us  that  during  Gen.  Banks'  retreat  a  large  num 
ber  of  guns  had  been  secreted  in  a  piece  of  woods  near  her, 
and  although  many  had  since  then  been  taken  away  by  the 
citizens,  doubtless  some  still  remained. 

On  reaching  camp,  Col.  Goodrich  offered  nte  a  detachment 
of  men  for  the  purpose  of  searching  the  woods.  Aiter  dinner 
I  took  fifty  men  and  went  out.  We  fo'urid  no  ordnance  stores, 
but  came  upon  three  re}>el  baggage  wagons,  of  huge  dimen 
sions,  hidden  in  the  forests.  Teams  were  obtained  from  camp, 
and  we  brought  them  in.  The  largest,  a  huge  wagon  over 
twenty  feet  long,  Robertson  determined  to  take  north,  for 
camp  meeting  purposes,  using  a  good  mule  team  to  draw  it, 
and  furnish  instrumental  music  and  groaning  for  the  occasion. 

While  at  Middletown,  drills  were  regularly  attended  to  every* 
day,  and  a  large  force  was  constantly  employed  on  picket  duty ; 


118  THE    SHENANDOAH   VALLEY. 

notwithstanding  all  which  the  men  were  sufficiently  rested  to 
scour  the  country  at  night,  and  to  bring  in  large  quantities  of 
milk,  honey,  mutton,  eggs,  poultry,  vegetables  and  soft  bread. 
The  surviving  members  of  the  old  Color  Guard  have  probably 
not  forgotten  their  exploits  in  that  line  ! 

On  the  18th,  we  were  reinforced  with  artillery.  Twenty- 
four  pieces  arrived,  and  were  equally  distributed  to  the  two 
brigades.  This  increased  the  number  in  our  brigade  to  thirty- 
two;  of  which  four  were  smooth-bore  twelve-pounders,  and 
the  balance  rifled  six-pounders,  throwing  a  ten-pound  shell. 

At  Harper's  Ferry  I  had  taken  a  runaway  negro  from 
Jackson's  army,  to  be  my  servant.  He  was  not  remarkably 
neat,  but  was  very  faithful,  and  remained  with  me  about  six 
months.  "While  we  were  at  Winchester  he  fell  in  love  with 
a  colored  girl  residing  there ;  and,  after  our  leaving,  soon 
began  to  importune  me  to  write  her  a  letter  for  him.  I  wrote 
what  I  thought  'was  a  very  affectionate  note,  but  he  thought 
it  needed  some  addition,  as  he  wanted  to  u  pop  de  question 
right  off  I"  He  therefrre  insisted  on  adding  this  : 

"  De  ribbers  are  wide,  an'  de  seas  are  deep- 
In  your  sweet  arms  I  wish  to  sleep ; 
Not  for  one  night,  nor  for  two  or  three, 
But  as  long  as  you  an'  I  can  agree. 

DITTO  !" 

I  remonstrated  that  that  was  not  a  very  modest  way  of  pre 
senting  the  matter.  "  Don'  know  noffing  'bout  dat,"  said  he ; 
11  dat's  de  way  we  allers  does." 

"  When  we  Yankees  get  married,  it  is  for  life ;  not,  simply, 
t  as  long  as  we  .can  agree/  That  would  make  bad  business." 

"  Well,  you  don'  catch  colored  folks  dat  way  !  S'pose,  now, 
I  marry  dat  gal,  an'  one  ob  dese  days  she  get  saucy,  think  I 
goin'  to  stay  wid  her  den  ?  No,  sir ;  I  get  somebody  else 
den  !  Don'  catch  us  married  no  longer  dan  we  can  agree  1" 

"  But  what  do  you  want  that  5  Ditto'  in  there  for  ?  What 
does  it  mean  ?" 


THE  SHENANDOAH  VALLEY.  119 

"  Don'  know  what  it  means.  It's  mighty  nice  word,  I 
reckon,  an'  we  allers  puts  it  in  our  love  letters." 

On  the  20th,  I  went  on  another  foraging  expedition.  The 
party  was  composed  as  before,  with  the  addition  of  Cornish, 
the  Hospital  Steward,  who  thought  it  might  furnish  him  with 
an  opportunity  to  pick  up  some  delicacies  for  the  sick. 

We  went  about  two  and  a  half  or  three  miles,  to  the  resi 
dence  of  a  Mr.  Stickles.  He  had  no  corn,  he  said,  but  about 
200  bushels  of  wheat.  We  took  about  28  bushels ;  but  as 
there  was  a  great  deal  of  chaff  in  it,  we  made  the  best  bargain 
we  could  for  Uncle  Sam,  and  only  receipted  for  20  bushels. 

While  the  others  were  loading  the  wheat,  Cornish  was 
cracking  away  with  his  pistol  at  the  hens,  and,  I  believe, 
brought  down  three  ;  and  I  got  in  conversation  with  a  lad  at 
the  rear  of  the  granary,  whom  I  supposed  was  the  son  of  the 
proprietor.  He  informed  me,  however,  that  he  was  not  his 
son,  but  his  slave ;  that  his  mother  was  a-  black  woman  living 
at  a  public  house  in  Newtown.  I  could  hardly  believe  the 
story,  as  the  boy  was  whiter  than  many  we  had  in  our  regi 
ment,  had  straight  hair,  and  little  or  nothing  of  the  negro  in 
his  features. 

Inquiring  how  he  fared,  and  if  he  would  not  like  his  free 
dom,  he  replied  that  he  was 'often  badly  treated,  and  would 
like  to  be  free,  but  did  not  dare  to  attempt  it,  for  fear  of  the 
consequences  if  he  should  be  caught.  I  offered  to  take  him 
with  us,  but  he  did  not  dare  to.  go.  Calling  the  attention  of 
the  others  to  him,  they  were  at  first  as  sceptical  as  myself  as 
to  his  position  on  the  place.  "See  here^  "Said  Lieutenant 
Gleason  to  Mr.  Stickles,  "isn't. this  your  son?"  "No;  he 
is  my  slave."  "  Well,  he  looks  near  enough  like  you  to  be 
your  son,  and  I  believe  he  is.  At  all  events,  you  are  the 
greatest  scoundrel  I  ever  saw  if  you  hold  a  white  boy  like 
that  in  slavery !" 

We  went  away  in  no  very  good  humor.  Our  one  thought 
was,  That  boy  ought  to  be  free  !  To  get  out  to  the  road,  we 


120  THE    SHENANDOAH    VALLEY. 

were  obliged  to  drive  through  the  man's  pasture.  Feeling 
that  we  had  done  wrong  in  receipting  for  the  wheat  to  such  a 
brute,  we  selected  a  good  fat  steer  from  the  cattle  feeding 
around  us,  and  drove  him  on  in  front  of  our  teams.  A  negro 
ran  after  us,  crying  most  bitterly,  and  imploring  us  not  to 
take  it  away.  It  had  been  given  him  by  his  owner,  who 
rented  him  to  the  man  on  whose  place  we  were,  and  he  soon 
expected  to  reap  some  benefit  from  it,  as  in  a  few  weeks  he 
was  to  have  his  freedom.  We  allowed  him  to  drive  the 
beast  back ;  but  were  in  doubt  afterwards  of  the  truth  of  hia 
story,  believing  that  his  master  compelled  him  to  lie. 

A  little  further  on  we  saw  another  slave  we  had  noticed  at 
the  house,  hunting  cattle  in  the  woods.  We  hailed  him,  and 
entered  into  conversation.  He  confirmed  all  that  we  had 
heard  about  the  white  boy.  Questioning  him  as  to  his  own 
treatment,  he  said  it  was  very  hard  at  times,  and  that  he  had 
been  very  badly  whipped.  He  thought  that  sometimes  life 
could  feel  thick  places  on  his  back  where  the  whip  had  been. 
At  our  request  he  removed  his  shirt.  Simultaneously  we 
exclaimed,  on  looking  at  his  back,  "  My  God  !"  We  had  all 
read  of  scarred  backs,  but  this  surpassed  all  description.  It 
was  one  continuous  scar,  and  the  ridges,  thick  as  our  fingers, 
which  the  whip  had  made,  crossed  it  in  all  directions  !  David 
never  cursed  his  enemies  more  roundly  than  we  then  cursed 
from  our  inmost  hearts  the'  monstrous  fiend  and  enemy  of 
humanity  who  had  occasioned  this.  We  at  once  determined 
on  further  action.  The  slave  promised  to  meet  us  on  that 
spot  at  dark,  and  Jp  bring  the  white  boy  witji  him ;  we  agree 
ing  to  deliver  and  protect  them. 

At  night  I  obtained  the  countersign,  and  G-lcason,  Robert 
son,  and  myself,  mounted  our  horses,  and  went  to  the  appointed 
place.  The  slave  was  not  there.  We  waited  awhile,  but  he 
did  not  come.  It  was  rumored  in  camp  that  rebel  cavalry 
had  been  seen  in  that  neighborhood  in  the  afternoon,  but  we 
determined  on  running  the  risk  of  carrying  out  our  purpose; 


THE   SIIENANDOAH   VALLEY.  121 

so  taking  our  pistols  in  one  hand,  and  our  reins  in  the  other, 
we  pushed  on  to  the  house.  All  was  dark  and  silent  there. 
We  alarmed  the  inmates,  and  demanded  the  white  boy.  He 
was  sent  out,  and,  though  at  first  afraid  of  us,  and  reluctant 
to  go,  we  succeeded  in  disabusing  him  of  the  lies  he  had  heard 
concerning  the  Yankees,  and  he  at  last  consented  that  Robert 
son  should  help  him  to  mount  behind  me  on  my  horse. 

Were  men  ever  happier  than  we  three  as  we  rode  home 
ward  ?  I  doubt  it. 

"  For  once/'  said  Gleason,  "  if  I  never  did  it  before,  I  am 
persuaded  that  I  have  now  done  God's  service." 

Robertson  replied,  with  energy,  "  If  this  is  not  doing  it, 
nothing  ever  can  be ;  and  there  is  no  use  in  having  a  God !" 

"  Amen  !"  was  my  response.  "  This  is  the  proudest  and 
the  happiest  moment  of  my  life,  and  I  thank  God  for  our  suc 
cess  !" 

With  such  happy  and  grateful  thoughts  and  utterances,  we 
rode  back  to  camp,  the  emancipated  boy  and  myself  in  the 
centre,  Robertson  on  the  right,  Gleason  on  the  left — "  A 
Guard  of  Honor,  now,  if  never  before,"  said  they.* 

On  Sunday,  the  22d,  we  held  religious  services  at  6  P.  M. 
Rev.  Mr.  Carpenter,f  Chaplain  of  the  1st  D.  C.  Volunteers, 

*  It  was  our  intention  to  have  sent  George  to  St.  Lawrence 
County,  but  no  favorable  opportunity  offered.  He  was  a  very 
active  and  intelligent  lad,  and  we  hoped  to  have  given  him  the 
advantages  of  an  education.  He  was  sick  in  August,  and 
sent  out  of  Virgmia  with  many  others  in  like  condition.  We 
never  could  learn  what  hospital  received  him,  nor  what  his  fate. 
He  was  very  happy  while  with  us,  and  we  were  always  glad  that 
we  made  him  free.  We  learned  from  him  that  Stickles  had  been 
a  soldier  in  the  rebel  army. 

t  Mr.  Carpenter  was  taken  sick  with  typhoid  fever  in  August, 
went  home,  and  died.     He  was  a  good  man,  always  at  his  post, 
and  much  beloved  by  his  regiment.     I  think  that  he  was  con 
nected  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
11 


122  THE   SHENANDOAH   VALLEY. 

officiated  with  me.  It  was  the  first  and  last  time  that  I  had 
a  chaplain  near  enough  to  me  to  enjoy  that  privilege. 

The  next  day  we  got  word  that  there  was  no  probability  that 
our  four  Companies  would  be  permitted  to  join  us.  The  in 
telligence  affected  us  sadly ;  and  so  confident  were  we  that 
Colonel  Goodrich  might,  by  a  personal  application  at  Wash 
ington,  obtain  them,  that  he  applied  for  and  received  leave  of 
absence  for  that  purpose.  At  this  time,  however,  he  was 
taken  sick  with  dysentery,  and  remained  ill  so  long  that  the 
project  was  abandoned. 

The  same  day  the  resignation  of  Second  Lieutenant  Lyman 
M.  Shedd  was  accepted.  He  had  been  for  some  time  a  great 
enemy  to  himself,  so  giving  way  to  his  appetite  as  to  destroy 
his  usefulness.  Subsequently  the  Governor  commissioned 
Charles  T.  Greene,  a  son  of  Brigadier-General  Greene,  to  fill 
the  vacancy,  with  rank  from  July  21st.  Lieutenant  Greene 
did  no  service  with  the  Regiment,  but  was  at  once  detailed  as 
an  Aid  on  his  father's  staff. 

On  the  24th,  we  moved  camp  about  three  miles  farther 
south,  on  the  banks  of  a  very  pretty  little  stream,  called  Cedar 
creek.  The  General  named  the  place  "  Camp  Goodrich,"  for 
our  Colonel.  It  was  a  beautiful  spot.  Three-top  Mountain 
was  to  our  right,  the  Blue  Ridge  in  front,  and  stretching  far 
off  to  our  left.  Wholly  surrounded  by  woods,  we  were  com 
pletely  hidden  from  any  point  of  observation  south  of  us. 

In  the  afternoon  William,  my  contraband,  importuned  me 
to  write  another  letter  for  him,  at  the  conclusion  of  which  he 
put  in  the  following : 

"As  green  as  de  leaves  of  de  willow  trees, 
Winchester  ladies  is  hard  to  please, 
Their  shoes  are  Bright,  their  stockings  are  white, 
Shall  I  get  married  to-morrow  night  ? 
No,  ma'am ! — I  am  too  young — I  ain  too  small — 
So  put  it  off  till  dc  coming  Fall ; 


THE   SHENANDOAH    VALLEY.  123 

But  when  you  hear  the  shepherd  cry, 

Says,  '  Come,  Miss  Carter,  an'  be  my  bride !' 

We  hab  no  long  time  to  tarry. 

When  I  am  dead,  an'  in  my  grave, 

My  bones  as  white  as  cotton, 

If  Miss  Carter  will  think  of  me, 

I  nebber  will  be  forgotten.  j 

I  can  handle  a  musket, 

I  can  smoke  de  pipe, 

And  I  can  kiss  de  pretty  yellar  gal 

At  ten  o'clock  at  night ! — DITTO  1" 

Two  days  afterwards,  as  he  had  received  an  answer  to  his 
first  letter,  he  insisted  on  sending  another.  I  agreed  to 
write,  provided  he  would  dictate  every  word  of  it.  I  could 
not  resist  keeping  a  copy,  and  here  it  is  verbatim : 

CAMP  GOODRICH, 
Near  Strasburg,  Warren  County,  Va., 

June  26,  1862. 
MY  DEAR  Miss  CARTER  : 

Mr.  Moss  c.ame  from  his  unworthy  dwelling  to  your  happy 
residence,  to  obtain  some  word  from  your  sweet  lips. 

DITTO. 

Mr.  Moss  has  been  very  unwell  since  de  last  letter  he 
wrote.  I  hope  dis  letter  will  find  you  well. 

How  doth  de  little  busy  bee 

Improve  de  shining  hour, 
And  gather  honey  all  de  day 

From  ebbery  open  flower. — DITTO. 

My  dear  Miss  Carter,  Mr.  Moss  has  something  on  his  mind 
he  wishes  to  strain  into  the  ears  ob  yourn,  if  you  have  no  re 
jection.  Sunday  morning,  if  I  live  and  hab  good  luck,  I 


124  THE    SHENANDOAH    VALLEY. 

shall  try  to  come  up  an'  see  you,  an'  I  hope  you  will  be  very 
happy  to  see  me. 

My  dear  Miss  Carter,  my  whole  mind  is  on  you  all  day  an* 
all  night,  dat  I  cannot  rest.  If  you  had  the  feeling  I  hab 
for  you,  by  the  10th  day  of  October  me  and  you  might  be  as 
one. 

Dar  is  a  tabbern  in  dis  town, 

Whar  my  true  lub  goes  an'  sets  down, 

She  takes  some  strange  gen'leman  on  her  knee, 

'Cause  she  knew  'twas  grief  to  me ! 

Yes  !  an'  I  can  tell  de  reson  why  : 

'Cause  he  wears  more  gold  dan  I ! 

His  gold  will  rust,  his  silver  will  canker ; 

But  dis  constant  lub  will  nebber  die  ! 

DITTO  ! 

My  dear  Miss  Carter,  nobody  nebber  will  lub  you  so  well 
as  I.  My  whole  heart  is  yours,  an'  I  want  you  to  let  me 
know  dat  I  hab  yourn. 

I  am  an  old  bachelor, 
An'  you  is  a  maid ; 
Come,  an'  let  us  get  married, 
An'  not  be  afraid  ! 

DITTO  ! 

My  dear  Miss  Carter,  I'se  took  my  pen  in  hand  to  write  you 
a  few  lines.  I  hope  dis  letter  will  find  you  well ;  also,  Miss 
Stephenson. 

I  think  if  you  thought  as  much  of  me  as  I  did  of  you,  you'd 
write  to  me  a  little  oftener.  I  think  dat  dar  is  somebody  dat 
you  fancy  more  so  dan  you  do  me. 

Against  I  come  up  next  Sunday,  I  want  you  to  buy  up 
some  cloth  and  make  me  a  couple  of  aprons,  an'  I  will  make 
it  all  right  when  I  come. 

Mr.  Moss,  when  he  comes  up,  wants  you  to  prepare  break 
fast  and  supper  for  him,  an'  to  have  something  nice,  for  he 


THE  SHENANDOAH  VALLEY,  125 

shan't  bring  any  victuals  with  him,  and  he  will  only  bring 
money  enough  in  his  pocket  to  board  his  horse  off.     I  hope 
when  he  come,  he  will  hab  de  pleasure  ob  walking  wid  you 
up  an'  down  Main  Street,  one  more  time,  if  no  more. 
Affectionately,  yours, 

WILLIAM  MOSS,  Jr. 

On  the  26th,  the  men  we  had  left  behind  at  Harper's  Ferry, 
came  in.  One  of  their  number,  Private  John  Kellison,  of 
Company  "  F,"  had  died  during  their  stay  at  the  Ferry,  June 
10th,  of  small-pox. 

On  reaching  camp,  Lieutenant  M.  F.  Spencer  resigned, 
assigning  as  a  cause,  sickness  in  his  family,  and  the  pressure 
of  important  business  at  home  demanding  his  attention.  The 
resignation  was  accepted,  and  he  left  us  the  next  day. 

At  evening  parade  on  the  26th,  the  first  symptoms  of  that 
terrible  sickness  which  subsequently  became  so  general  in 
the  regiment,  strikingly  displayed  themselves.  While  the 
Orders  were  being  read,  several  were  obliged,  from  exhaus 
tion,  to  sit  down  in  the  ranks,  one^  or  two  fainted  and  fell 
down;  and  presently  Lieutenant-Colonel  Brundage,  who -was 
presiding,  fell  upon  his  face. 

It  is  difficult,  perhaps  impossible,  to  give  any  satisfactory 
theory  of  the  cause  of  typhus  fever  in  the  army.  It  is  the 
disease  more  to  be  dreaded  than  all  others,  invariably  attended 
with  great  mortality,  and  leaving  those  who  escape  with  life, 
victims  to  a  host  of  disorders  and  weaknesses.  Many  chronic 
diseases  follow  it,  and,  in  a  great  number  of  cases,  life  becomes 
a  weary  burden.  Acclimation,  though  a  very  general  and,  in 
many  of  its  applications,  an  indefinable  term,  seems  to  be  the 
only  word  that  can  express  the  reason  of  this  disease.  So  far 
as  my  own  observation  goes,  it  corroborates  the  following  in 
thev  report  of  the  Sanitary  Commission  :  a  There  is  reason  to 
think  that  the  most  sickness  has  occurred  where  regiments 
raised  in  far  northern  and  highland  districts  have  been  moved 
11* 


126  THE   SHENANDOAH    VALLEY. 

to  lowland,  fluvial  and  seaboard  districts;  those,  for  instance, 
from  Maine  and  Vermont,  the  ridge  counties  of  New  York, 
and  from  Minnesota,  being  more  subject  to  distinct  disease, 
as  well  as  to  demoralization,  or  ill-defined  nostalgia,  than  others 
in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac." 

General  Sigel  had  ordered  the  organization  of  companies 
of  sharpshooters,  and  quite  a  number  were  selected  From  our 
regiment.  While  at  Camp  Goodrich  these  men  acted  as 
scouts,  and  did  good  service.  They  pretty  effectually  searched 
the  mountains  in  the  vicinity,  and  succeeded  in  arresting 
several  stragglers  from  the  rebel  army.  On  one  occasion,  I 
remember,  Lieutenant  Clark,  of  Company  "  A,"  who  com 
manded  a  detachment  of  this  force,  captured  a  rebel  officer 
who  had  disguised  his  dress,  was  driving  his  horse  by  a  rude 
rope  bridle,  and  Imd  his  equipments  rolled  up  in  an  old  grain 
bag,  and  tied  to  his  saddle.  He  was  brought  into  camp,  and, 
I  think,  sent  to  Washington. 

On  the  29th,  we  got  notice  of  the  appointment  of  General 
Pope  to  the  command  of  the  Army  of  Virginia,  and  received 
an  order  from  him  to  put  ourselves  in  readiness,  with  an 
abundant  supply  of  ammunition.  The  Quartermaster  was 
also  notified  that,  in  the  coming  march,  hard  bread,  coffee, 
sugar,  salt,  and  cattle  on  the  hoof,  would  be  the  only  subsist 
ence  stores  taken. 

The  same  day,  Private  Seth  R.  C.  Thompson,  of  Company 
u  E,"  died,  after  two  days'  sickness,  with  dysentery.  He  was 
the  only  son  of  his  parents,  and,  having  insisted  on  enlisting 
at  the  time  the  regiment  was  organizing,  his  father  concluded 
to  enter  the  service  also,  that  he  might  look  after  and  care 
for  him.  The  boy's  sudden  death  was  a  severe  trial  to  the 
father,  and  he  bowed  in  great  agony.  The  following  morning 
a  grave  was  dug  among  the  young  pines  in  front  of  the  camp, 
and  as  we  bore  the  remains  to  it,  hundreds  from  adjoining 
regiments  drew  near,  attracted  by  the  solemn  dirge  of  the 


THE  SHENANDOAH  VALLEY.  127 

Band,  and  listened  in  reverent  silence  to  the  simple  service 
of  burial. 

Later  in  the  day,  we  were  again  mustered  for  pay.  The 
Line  Officers  and  men  were  mustered  on  the  Regimental 
Parade,  the  Field,  Staff  and  Band  went  down  to  General 
Slough's  Headquarters. 

Sickness  in  the  regiment  had  interfered  with  the  plans  and 
arrangements  of  William  Moss,  Jr.  The  colonel's  nephew, 
who  came  out  as  his  servant,  had  been  obliged  to  leave  us  at 
Camp  Tait,  and  was  now  in  Baltimore,  very  sick  with  typhoid 
fever;  Lt.-Col.  Brundage's  boy  was  too  much  unwell  to  be  of 
any  service,  and  William,  therefore,  could  not  be  spared  to  go 
arid  see  his  intended.  He  was  in  great  grief,  and  insisted  on 
sending  on  another  letter.  I  offered  to  write  on  the  same  con 
dition  as  before,  and  he  dictated  the  following : 

"  CAMP  GOODRICH,  June  30;  1862. 

My  dear  Miss  Carter  :  I'se  took  my  pen  in  my  hand  to 
write  you  a  few  lines.  I  hope  dis  letter  may  find  you  well. 

I  was  very  sorry  to  disappoint  you  in  comin',  for  all  de  Field 
and  Staff  was  sick  'cepting  me,  derfore  I  couldn't  come.  I 
hope  you  won't  take  it  to  heart,  for  I'll  come- when  I  can. 

I  has  been  very  well,  myself,  but  dat  dime  I  put  in  de  last 
letter  I  wrote,  I  hope  you  might  bought  some  cakes  with  it. 

Here  I  stan'  both  ragged  and  dirty ; 

If  Miss  Carter  don't  kiss   me,  I'll  run  like  a  turkey.. 

Here  I  stan'  on  two  little  chips, 

An'  Miss  Carter  can  kiss  my  sweet  little  lips. 

DITTO  ! 
My  dear  Miss  Carter  : 

When  I  first  come  to  see  you 
Your  lips  was  cherry-red ; 
Farewell,  my  false  love  ! 

Since  you  hab  denied,  I  must  perwide ! 

DITTO  ! 


128  THE   SHENANDOAH   VALLEY. 

My  dear  Miss  Carter,  it  is  hard  to  be  in  lub  and  can't  be 
lubed  again.  We  expect  to  go  down  to  Richmond  in  a  few 
days ;  but  I  won't  forget  you,  an'  I  hope  you  won't  forget  me. 

I  has  a  true  lub  on  de  ocean, 

Seben  long  years  she  been  at  sea, 
An'  if  she  stay  away  seben  years  longer, 

Nobody  on  earth  shall  marry  me ; 
An'  dat  shall  be  Miss  Carter  !  DITTO  ! 

It's  now  near  Taps,  and  I'm  'bliged  to  close. 

If  you  lub  me  as  I  lub  you, 
No  knife  can  cut  our  lubs  in  two ; 
But  scissors  cut  as  well  as  "knives, 
Fate's  scissors  soon  may  cut  our  lives.        DITTO  ! 
Adieu,  Miss  Carter! 

William  Moss,  Jr. 
My  dear  Miss  Carter, 

I  want  you  to  pray  for  me, 

An'  I  for  you. 
'Cause  dats  de  way 

God's  gib  us  to  do. 
If  I  nebber  see  you  no  more, 

I  hope  to  meet  you  in  Hebben, 
Where  we'll  part  no  more.  DITTO  ! 

Affectionately,  yours, 

William  Moss,  Jr. 

Write  soon,  I  'se  wants  to  hear  from  you  mighty  bad." 
Lieut.-Col.  Brundage  grew  worse  so  fast,  and  in  such  an 
alarming  manner,  that  he  concluded  that  it  was  best  for  him 
to  go  home,  and  for  that  purpose  readily  obtained  leave  of 
absence  for  twenty  days.  His  condition  being  such  that  it 
was  not  prudent  for  him  to  go  alone,  Gen.  Slough  gave  me 
leave  of  absence  for  seven  days,  that  I  might  accompany  him 
as  far  as  was  necessary.  We  left  camp  on  the  afternoon  of  July 


THE   SHENANDOAH    VALLEY.  129 

1st,  in  a  two-wheeled  ambulance, — one  of  the  most  barbarous 
things  for  the  torture  of  the  sick  and  wounded,  that  was  ever 
invented !  It  was  late  in  the  evening  when  we  landed  at 
Taylor's  hotel,  in  Winchester,  where  we  paid  three  dollars  for 
a  supper  consisting  of  a  glass  of  railk,  and  for  the  privilege 
of  occupying  a  bed  in  company  with  innumerable  vermin. 
It  was  the  best  the  place  afforded,  and  there  was  enough  of 
it,  such  as  it  was !  Early  next  morning  we  took  cars  for  Har 
per's  Ferry,  and  from  thence  to  Baltimore,  arriving  at  the 
latter  place  at  3  P.  M.  After  resting  a  few  hours  and  ob 
taining  some  nourishing  food,  the  Lietit.-Colonel  thought  he 
felt  strong  enough  to  start  for  New  York,  and  accordingly 
went  in  a  sleeping  car  that  evening.  I  remained  at  home  till 
the  morning  of  the  7th,  and  then  started  to  rejoin  the  regiment. 


130  UNNECESSARY    MARCHES. 


VII. 

UNNECESSARY  MARCHES. 

STOPPING  over  night  in  Winchester,  I  learned  that  the  troops 
had  nearly  all  left  the  -vicinity  of  Strasburg,  and  it  was  ex 
pected  that  the  rebels  might  make  another  raid  up  the  valley. 
The  citizens,  although  largely  in  sympathy  with  the  rebellion, 
had  no  desire  for  another  visit  from  their  friends,  and  were 
therefore  badly  scared. 

On  the  morning  of  the  8th,  I  came  across  our  Sutler,  Wm. 
P.  Tilley,  who  had  come  to  Winchester  for  a  fresh  supply  of 
goods.  Very  fortunately  for  me,  he  could  give  me  a  chance 
to -ride  to  the  regiment  with  him,  which  I  gladly  accepted, 
and  we  started  for  Front  Royal  at  2  P.  M.  The  heat  was 
most  intense,  and,  as  the  load  was  heavy,*we  moved  very 
slowly.  At  9  .o'clock,  having  come  14  miles,  we  turned  into 
an  open  field,  about  5  miles  north  of  Front  Royal,  and  help 
ing  ourselves  from  a  field  of  fresh-cut  wheat,  to  enough  for 
the  horses,  and  for  a  bed  for  ourselves,  made  a  comfortable 
resting  place,  and  went  to  sleep.  Starting  on  again,  at  five 
the  next  morning,  we  overtook  our  baggage  train  at  noon, 
when,  transferring  myself  to  the  wagon  belonging  to  General 
Slough's  Headquarters,  we  caught  up  with  the  regiment  at 
about  5  P.  M. 

The  regiment  had  left  Camp  Goodrich  on  the  6th,  and 
marched  to  Front  Royal,  where  it  remained  till  4  A.  M.,  on 
the  9th. 

Fred.  J.  Champlain,  of  Company  "  A,"  was  left  behind  at 


UNNECESSARY    MARCHES.  131 

Camp  Goodrich,  sick.  He  died  on  the  morning  of  the  7th, 
of  bilious  colic,  and  was  buried  beside  young  Thompson. 

Henry  B.  Rowley,  of  Company  "  K,"  died  on  the  8th,  at 
Academy  Hospital,  Winchester,  of  ^typhus  fever ;  and  was 
buried  in  the  Presbyterian  burial  ground,  at  that  place. 

At  sunset,  on  the  9th,  we  came  to*  a  halt  for  the  night  in  a 
grove  near  Washington  Court  House,  Rappahannock  County. 
At  daylight,  the  next  morning,  it  began  to  rain,  and  thinking 
it  hardly  probable  that  we  were  to  go  further  in  the  storm, 
we  put  up  our  tents  and  prepared  to  be  comfortable,  but  Had 
hardly  swallowed  our  breakfasts  when  the  order  came  to 
inarch.  General  Cooper  said  we  were  -to  go  but  six  miles,  and 
having  reached  that  point,  we  came  to  a  halt,  obedient  to 
orders;  •  Colonel  Tait,  who  was  temporarily  in  command  of  the 
Brigade,  (General  Slough  having  left  us  and  gone  to  Wash 
ington,)  .understood  an  Aid  of  General  Cooper's  that  we  were 
to  stack  arms  in  a  field  near  by,  and  the  line  was  nearly  formed, 
when  the  Aid  returned  in  great  haste  and  excitement,  and 
began  to  scold  as  well  as  his  imperfect  use  of  the  English 
language  would  allow.  Colonel  Tait  understood  from  what 
was  said,  that  we  were  to  go  on  ;  but  being  very  much  vexed, 
he  sent  word  back  to  General  Cooper,  that  he  wished  he 
would  send  his  orders  by  some  one  he  could  understand,  and 
not  by  a  d — d  Dutchman !  The  Colonel  was  rewarded  for 
such  an  expression  of  desire  by  being  placed  under  arrest ; 
and  the  charge  of  the  Brigade  devolved  on  Colonel  IJllman. 

On  we  marched  till  10  in  the  evening,  when  we  came  to 
A'missville,  a  small  place  of  not  more  than  100  inhabitants, 
on  the  southwest  bank  of  Hedgeman  River,  a  branch  of  the 
Rappahannock,  twenty-five  miles  from  our  camp  the  night 
before.  The  teams  did  not  come  up  till  some  hours  after, 
and  consequently  many  of  the  officers  slept  cold,  as  the  night 
dews  all  through  that  section  of  Virginia  are  very  heavy,  but 
Colonel  Goodrich  and  myself  having  taken  the  precaution  to 


132  UNNECESSARY    MARCHES. 

keep  a  few  blankets  with  us,  used  our  saddles  for  pillows,  and 
got  comfortably  through  the  night. 

On  Friday,  we  crossed  the  river  at  9  A.  M.,  and  marched 
all  day  in  a  northeasterly  direction,  halting  late  in  the  after 
noon,  after  having  made  about  17  miles,  at  a  beautiful  spot 
on  a  commanding  eminence,  about  4  miles  southwest  of  War- 
renton.  It  was  soon  evident  that  we  were  in  a  region  plenti 
fully  supplied  with  the  means  of  living,  for,  in  some  way,  as 
soon  as  it  was  dark,  mutton,  beef,  chickens  and  vegetables 
came  into  camp  in  great  abundance.  Cherries  were  also  very 
plenty,  and  a  very  luscious  berry,  much  like  the  Northern 
blackberry,  but  growing  on  a  low  running  vine,  and  called 
by  the  citizens  dewberries,  were  around  us  in  large  quantities. 

During  the  night  of  Saturday,  Abraham  Wells,  of  Com 
pany  "  D,"  a  very  excellent  old  man,  died  after  a  brief  illness, 
of  typhus  fever.  We  buried  him  on  Sunday,  in  a  grove  at 
the  left  of  our  camp. 

We  remained  at  this  camp  till  the  17th,  during  which  time 
sickness  of  a  typhoidal  type  greatly  increased  ;  and,  to  add  to 
ouf  discomfort,  Dr.  Gale  was  severely  afflicted  with  acute 
rheumatism,  keeping  him  from  rest  and  sleep. 

Not  far  from  our  camp  was  an  old  log  meeting-house,  known 
as  the  "  Carter's  Run  Church,"  and  belonging  to  the  Regular 
Old  School  (Hardshell,  I  suspect)  Baptists.  It  was  far  gone 
in  decay,  and  evidently  had  not  been  used  for  a  long  time. 
Several  printfd  documents  were  scattered  about  the  floor, 
some  of  which  I  picked  up  and  preserved  as  curious  things. 
One  of  these  contains  the  "  Constitution  of  the  Rappahannock 
Association,  as  amended  in  1843."  After  asserting  that  they 
are  "  Gospelly  Baptised  believers,"  Article  3d  says : 

"We  believe  that  there  are  many  institutions  called  benevolent, 
and  by  many  esteemed  consistent  with  the  Scriptures,  and  con 
sequently  religious,  that,  as  at  present  organized  upon  a  money 
basis,  are  without  Divine  authority,  destructive  of  the  peace  and 
harmony  of  the  churches,  and  inconsistent  with  due  loyalty  to 


UNNECESSARY    MARCHES.  133 

the  Great  King  in  Zion,  and  reverence  for  His  righteous  man 
dates,  of  which  we  will  mention  the  Missionary,  Bible,  Temper 
ance,  Sabbath  School,  Tract  and  Mite  Societies,  Theological 
Seminaries,  etc.,  which  we  believe  to  be  at  war  with  God's  Worcl, 
and  consequently  have  no  fellowship  for  them." 

"  The  Circular  Letter  of  the  Tygart's  Valley  River  Asso 
ciation,  session  of  1852,"  gives,  as  the  following  extract  will 
show,  an  idea  of  the  complacency  with  which  "  The  Gospelly 
Baptized  "  regarded  themselves  : 

"We  also  have  the  testimony  of  God's  word,  that  the  Old 
School  Baptists  are  the  church  of  the  living  God,  the  pillar  and 
the  ground  of  truth :  and  that  other  denominations  are  no  more  or 
less  than  branches,  or,  sprouts  from  the  Catholic  stump,  and  that 
the  popes  of  Home  originated  from  those  corrupt  men  who  crept 
into  the  church  to  spy  out  the  liberties  of  God;s  people  in  the 
days  of  the  Apostles,  and  by  their  stratagems  gained  the  as 
cendency,  and  in  the  days  of  Constantino  received  law  power 
upon  their  side,  and  thus  the  poor  Christians  were  put  to  the  rack, 
and  torn  to  pieces  in  different  ways,  and  for  fear  of  the  Eomish 
inquisition  they  met  in  secret  places  in  the  night-time,  in  order  to 
worship  the  God  of  heaven.  Even  the  poor  Waldenses  were  dis 
turbed  by  them,  and  peace  and  harmony  taken  from  the  valley  of 
Piedmont.  Do  you  suppose  for  a  moment  that  human  nature  is 
any  better  now  than  it  was  then  ?  No,  not  one  particle ;  for  they 
shall  wax  worse  and  worse,  deceiving  and  being  deceived,  and 
many  shall  follow  their  pernicious  ways,  by  reason  of  whom  the 
way  of  truth  shall  be  evil  spoken  of  and  your  names  cast  out  as 
evil.  But  be  of  good  cheer ;  Christ  has  overcome  the  world,  and 
be  thou  faithful  unto  death,  and  you  shall  receive  a  crown  of 
glory.  Though  the  great  beast  the  world  is  now  wondering  after 
may  fill  the  land  with  his  tracts  and  with  his  different  false  re 
ligious  books,  and  bias  the  minds  of  our  youths,  and  get  the  law 
of  power  upon  his  side,  yet  the  Lord  will  save  his  heart's  delight, 
for  he  that  is  our  God  is  the  God  of  salvation,  and  to  God  the 
Lord  belong  the  issues  from  death.  We  took  the  position  that 
the  Old  School  Baptists  were  the  true  church  of  the  living  God, 
and  for  proof,  the  doctrine  which  they  hold  and  teach,  the  world 
12 


13-4  UNNECESSARY    MARCHES. 

does  not  and  cannot  receive,  for  the  word  of  truth  says,  ye  are 
not  of  the  world,  therefore  the  world  will  not  hear  you.  While 
the  doctrine  of  other  Denominations  the  world  will  hear  and  re- 
ceive,  which  pro.ves  that  they  are  of  the  world,  for  the  world  loves 
its  own.  Again,  their  doctrine  limits  the  power  and  the  glory 
of  God;  while  that  which  you  advocate,  brethren,  gives  him  all 
the  power  and  all  the  glory ;  exalts  him  with  an  humble  heart, 
and  a  contrite  spirit,  and  makes  him  Lord  of  lords  and  King  of 
kings.  Then  be  not  discouraged  though  the  Cains  may  slay  the 
Abels,  though  the  Ishmaelites  may  grin  and  mock  the  Isaacs, 
though  the  Esaus  may  hate  the  Jacobs,  though  the  Amalekites  may 
wage  war  with  the  Israelites,  though  the  Philistines  may  invade 
the  land  of  Canaan,  though  the  Sauls  may  seek  to  slay  the  Davids, 
though  Jezebels  with  all  their  train  may  try  to  put  down  the 
Elijahs,  though  the  river  may  be  red  with  the  blood  of  the  saints, 
as  they  were  anciently,  the  Lord  will  bring  you  off  more  than 
conquerors,  through  the  righteousness  of  his  dear  Son." 

While  at  this  camp,  we  got  a  rumor  that  G-ustavus  Adolphus 
Scroggs  had  been  appointed  Brigadier-General,  and  assigned 
to  our  Brigade.  Such  of  us  as  knew  his  political  history  and 
remembered  Harper's  Ferry,  thought  of  the  Church  Liturgy, 
and  prayed,  "  Good  Lord  deliver  us !"  In  the  midst  of  our 
sad  apprehensions  of  his  coming,  who  should  appear  to  us, 
from  Washington,  with  authority  to  take  command  of  our 
brigade,  but  our  good  friend,  Gen.  George  S.  Greene.  It  put 
new  life  into  us,  and  officers  and  men  were  ready  to  shout  for 
joy !  Gen.  Sigel  having  been  transferred  to  Gen.  Fremont's 
former  Corps,  Gen.  Christopher  C.  Augur  was  sent  by  the 
War  Department  to  take  command  of  our  Division.  He  was 
an  officer  in  excellent  repute  among  military  men,  and  having 
found  out  where  we  were  from,  he  thought  he  should  be  spe 
cially  interested  in  our  regiment,  by  virtue  of  his  having  mar 
ried  his  wife  in  Ogdensburgh. 

On  the  14th,  Lieut.  N.  M.  Dickinson  and  a  few  others, 
including  two  of  the  Band,  started  out  about  noon,  to  hunt  for 
some  secreted  rebel  pistols,  which,  somebody  had  told  them, 


UNNECESSARY    MARCHES.  135 

were  in  a  piece  of  woods  just  outside  our  lines.  They  were 
to  have  returned  at  dark,  but  having  failed  to  come  at  noon 
the  next  day,  we  became  anxious  concerning  them,  and  were 
just  on  the  point  of  sending  out  our  company  of  sharpshooters 
to  search  for  them,  when  word  was  brought  that  they  had 
been  arrested  by  a  cavalry  guard,  some  ten  miles  beyond  War- 
renton.  On  their  coining  in  shortly  after,  they  concluded 
they  had  not  been  on  a  very  profitable  job  ! 

On  the  16th,  having  received  notice  that  we  were  to  march 
early  the  next  morning,  we  sent  our  sick  men  to  Washington, 
from  whence  most  of  them  were  taken  to  Alexandria. 

The  next  morning  we  were  off  at  5.30.  Riding  for  awhile 
in  company  with  Gen.  Greene,  he  informed  me  that  Gen. 
Pope's  order  for  us  to  march  did  not  contemplate  our  coming 
to  Warrenton,  but  that  through  the  carelessness  of  the  clerk, 
who  copied  the  orders  to  send  to  the  Generals  in  the  field, 
"  five  miles  from  Warrenton,"  was  substituted  for  "  five  miles 
from  Sperryville,"  so  in'retracing  our  steps  to  get  right  again, 
we  had  about  forty  miles  of  unnecessary  marching. 

As  usual,  we  had  not  marched  far  when  we  were  visited 
with  a  drenching  rain.  By  the  time  we  reached  Hedgeman 
river,  the  stream  was  considerably  swollen.  The  footmen 
crossed  on  a  log  bridge,  and  the  artillery  and  a  few  baggage 
wagons  forded'  the  river,  but  it  was  impossible  to  get  but  a 
small  portion  of  the  train  across.  It  continued  to  rain  till 
sunset,  at  which  time  we  reached  Gaines  Cross  Roads,  and 
encamped  in  the  very  field  where  Col.  Tait  had  formed 
his  line  a  few  days  before.  We  had  no  tents,  save^  the  few 
pieces  of  shelter  tent  carried  by  the  men,  and  as  all  our 
clothes  and  blankets  were  thoroughly  drenched,  the  prospect 
was  not  very  good  for  a  comfortable  night.  Fortunately  there 
were  fences  on  the  place,  and  a  quantity  of  hay  and  straw  in 
a  barn  belonging  to  the  premises.  Of  the  former  we  made 
good  fires,  and  spread  out  the  latter  to  lie  on.  At  midnight, 
the  storm  poured  down  again  with  increased  fury.  I  bur- 


136  UNNECESSARY    MARCHES. 

rowed  in  the  straw,  and  thought  to  completely  envelop  myself 
in  my  rubber  blanket  •  but  it  was  of  no  avail,  the  waters  rose 
under  me,  and  the  wet  straw  became  an  uncomfortable  nest. 
A  retreat  to  the  fires  was  a  necessity  with  all  the  officers  long 
before  daylight. 

In  the  morning  there  was  a  general  search  for  something  to 
eat.  The  rations,  as  also  the  cooking  utensils,  were  with  the 
teams.  When  we  should  again  see  them  depended  wholly  on 
the  length  and  violence  of  the  storm.  The  farms  far  and  near 
were  visited,  and  all  obtained  something  to  appease  hunger. 

I  visited  several  slave  huts,  while  out  on  this  food-huntin^ 

/  O 

expedition,  and  found  in  them  all,  as  in  many  others  in  differ 
ent  localities  in  Virginia,  a  striking  exhibition  of  the  beauty 
of  that  singularly  beneficent  system  on  which  Jefferson  Davis 
and  the  Southern  patriarchs  propose  to  build  the  Southern 
Confederacy.* 

*  The  "  Richmond  Examiner/7  of  May  30,  1863,  informs  the 
world  what  the  Southern  Confederacy  means.  The  picture  is 
strongly  painted,  and  there  can  be  no  mistake  as  to  the  meaning 
of  the  limner.  It  says  : 

"  If  the  Confederacy  is  at  a  premium,  she  owes  it  to  herself. 
And  so  much  the  better.  We  shall  be  all  the  more  free  to  run 
the  grand  career  which  opens  before  us,  and  grasp  our  own  lofty 
destiny.  Would  that  all  of  us  understood  and  laid  to  heart  the 
true  nature  of  that  career  and  that  destiny,  and  the  responsibility 
it  imposes !  The  establishment  of  the  Confederacy  is,  verily,  a 
distinct  reaction  against  the  whole  course  of  the  mistaken  civiliza 
tion  of  tli%  age.  And  this  is  the  true  reason  why  we  have  been  left 
without  the  sympathy  of  the  nations  until  we  conquered  that 
sympathy  with  the  sharp  edge  of  our  sword.  For  '  Liberty, 
Equality,  Fraternity,'  we  have  deliberately  substituted  Slavery, 
Subordination,  and  Government.  Those  social  and  political 
problems  which  rack  and  torture  modern  society,  we  have  under 
taken  to  solve  for  ourselves,  in  our  own  way,  and  upon  our  own 
principles.  That  'among  equals,  equality  is  right;'  among 
those  who  are  naturally  unequal,  equality  is  chaos ;  that  there  are 


UNNECESSARY   MARCHES.  137 

The  husband  and  wife,  so-called — for  marriage,  among  the 
blacks,  in  a  slaveholding,  especially  in  a  slave-breeding,  State, 
is  only  matter  of  form,  convenience,  and  temporary  interest  to 
the  master  or  owner — were  generally  black ;  but  the  children 
were  of  all  shades  of  complexion.  Frequently  in  a  family 
of  six  or  eight  children — the  uniform  number  in  most  of  the 
families  I  noticed — the  illegitimate  children  very  evidently 
outnumbered  those  of  whom  the  black  husband  is  the  father. 
Some  of  these  would  readily  pass  for  white  children,  while 
others  have  all  the  peculiar  marks  of  mulattoes,  and  still  others 
seem  to  be  purely  African.  It  seems  perfectly  awful  to  the 
pretended  owners  of  these  poor  creatures,  that  by  amalgama 
tion,  sure,  as  they  say — judging  from  their  own  tastes,  evi 
dently — to  follow  the  abolition  of  slavery,  such  beings  should 
legitimately  come  into  the  world,  and  have  a  fair  start  in  the 
opportunities  of  existence ;  but  perfectly  right,  humane,  and 
consistent  with  the  will  of  God,  that  they  should  spring  from 
mere  beastly  lust,  and  then  minister  to  convenience  and  gain, 
as  cattle  do,  the  highest  price  being  paid  for  those  who  mani 
fest  the  greatest  amount  of  the  superior  blood ! 

Possibly  in  writing  this  I  may  be  doing  injustice  to  the 
blessed  institution  of  the  South,  and  also  unduly  agitating  the 
minds  of  personal  friends  at  the  North,  who  have  heard,  as  is 
reported  to  me,  that  I  have  lost  my  Abolition  proclivities  since 
my  experience  in  Dixie.  In  justice,  therefore,  to  the  first, 
and  to  soothe  the  latter,  I  will  say  that  I  attach  all  possible 

slave  races  born  to  serve,  master  races  born  to  govern.  Such  are 
the  fundamental  principles  which  we  inherit  from  the  ancient 
world,  which  we  lifted  up  in  the  face  of  a  perverse  generation 
that  has  forgotten  the  wisdom  of  its  fathers ;  by  those  principles 
we  live,  and  in  their  defence  we  have  shown  ourselves  ready  to 
die.  Reverently  we  feel  that  our  Confederacy  is  a  God-sent  mis- 
-sionary  to  the  nations,  with  great  truths  to  preach.  We  must 
speak  them  boldly  ;  and  whoso  hath  ears  to  hear  let  him  hear." 


138  UNNECESSARY    MARCHES. 

importance  to  the  theory  based  on  the  operations  of  the  ele- . 
phant,  as  manifest  in  the  following  incident : 

"In  1850,  while  Van  Amburg  &  Co/s  Menagerie  was  travel 
ling  in  Mississippi,  Hannibal,  their  monster  elephant,  was  ordered 
to  swim  the  Black  Warrior  river,  which  was  greatly  swollen  by  a 
freshet.  Instead,  however,  of  crossing  as  directed,  he  started  on 
a  voyage  of  discovery  down  stream,  emerging  suddenly  some 
twelve  miles  below  where  he  entered.  He  came  ashore  on  the 
edge  of  a  cotton-field,  where  a  large  number  of  slaves  were  at 
work,  and  the  effect  produced  among  them  by  the  unexpected 
and  terrific  apparition  maybe  imagined  but  cannot  be  described. 
The^news  spread,  with  all  the  exaggerations  which  would  natu 
rally  be  given  to  such  an  event,  with  incredible  rapidity,  and 
resulted  in  a  general  stampede  of  the  entire  colored  population 
of  the  country.  It  is  even  said  by  some  that  a  good  many  of  the 
darkies  turned  white  with  fright,  and,  as  proof  of  this,  numbers 
are  pointed  out  in  that  region  who  have  not  yet  fully  regained 
their  natural  hue.  It  would  hardly  be  fair,  however,  to  hold 
Hannibal  responsible  for  all  the  doubtful  shades  of  complexion  to 
be  found  in  that  vicinity." 

I  give  this  just  as  I  find  it,  adding  only  that  I  hope  it  may 
comfort  my  Conservative  friends  as  much  as  it  has  pleased 
me! 

Having  satisfied  hunger,  I  looked  about  for  a  place  where  I 
might  make  up  for  the  disturbed  sleep  of  the  previous  night, 
and  accepted  an  invitation  from  the  Band  to  take  up  quarters 
with  them  in  a  church,  about  half  a  mile  from  camp.  It 
was  a  new  building,  having  plenty  of  refuse  lumber  in  the 
basement,  which  we  used  up  for  purposes  of  drying  and  com 
fort  in  two  very  good  stoves  that  were  set  up  in  the  house. 
The  pulpit  was  assigned  to  me  as  my  most  appropriate  part  of 
the  house,  and,  spreading  my  blanket  on  the  floor,  I  took  a 
refreshing  nap.  In  the  course  of  the  day  we  got  some  bacon, 
and  on  that  and  the  following  day  the  boys  gathered  dewber 
ries  and  cherries  in  great  abundance.  "We  spent  two  nights 


UNNECESSARY    MARCHES.  139 

in  the  church,  during  which  it  is  reported  that  there  was 
some  very  hard  sleeping  in  the  pulpit,  and  I  am  sure  that 
there  was  more  than  the  usual  amount  in  the  pews. 

Dr.  Gale  was  very  sick  during  our  stay  at  this  place,  and 
several,  who  subsequently  died,  began  to  come  down  with 
typhus  fever. 

On  Sunday,  the  20th,  Adjutant  Gale  returned  from  Wash-' 
ington,  and  reported  for  duty  with  the  regiment.  He  informed 
us  that  our  four  companies  were  at  the  river  with  the  teams, 
and  that  our  baggage  had  laid  wholly  under  water  for  twelve 
hours.  At  noon  the  teams  came  up,  and  we  were  at  once 
ordered  to  march.  We*  made  about  six  miles,  and  halted  at 
6  P.  M.,  about  two  miles  south  of  Washington  C.  H.  The 
teams  came  up  at  eight  o'clock,  but  as  it  had  commenced 
raining  again,  we  let  our  trunks  lay  till  morning.  The  sun 
rose  clear  the  next  day,  and  we  had  a  general  overhauling  of 
damaged  property.  Portfolios  and  papers  generally  were  des 
troyed,  and  clothes  and  blankets  in  a  wet  and  muddy  condi 
tion.  Dress  uniforms  lost,  all  form  of  comeliness,  and  were 
"  ring-streaked  and  speckled."  I  fared  better  than  some 
others — Dr.  Gale,  for  instance,  who  had  a  box  of  chewing- 
tobacco  in  his  trunk,  which  stained  and  discolored  everything  • 
and  whereas  my  things  were  only  spoiled,  his  were  totally 
ruined,  save  in  so  far  as  they  were  rendered  impervious  to  the 
attacks  of  moths ! 

During  the  morning,  (July  21st,)  Major  James  came  up 
with  his  command.  The  Band  met  them  just  outside  our 
camp,  and  escorted  them  in,  where  they  met  with  a  warm  and 
earnest  welcome.  At  evening  parade,  Colonel  Goodrich  made 
a  very  appropriate  and  feeling  speech,  and  we  all  rejoiced  in 
our  reunion. 

Having  recently  written  to  Colonel  James  for  some  items  of 
information,  I  here  insert  his  letter,  containing  a  graphic 
description  of  the  freshet : 


140  UNNECESSARY   MARCHES. 

HEADQUARTERS  lOGrn  REG'T  N.  Y.  VOLS., 

NORTH  MOUNTAIN,  VA.,  April  5th,  1863. 
HEV.  RICHARD  EDDY  : — 

SIR  :  I  enlisted  in  the  service  of  the  United  States  on  the 
4th  day  of  July,  1861.  I  was  mustered  in  as  Adjutant  of 
the  50th  Regiment,  N.  Y.  Vols.,  on  the  19th  day  of  August, 
1861.  I  served  during  the  winter  of  1861-2,  as  Assistant 
Adjutant-General  of  the  Volunteer  Engineer  Brigade,  then 
commanded  by  Colonel  Alexander,  U.  S.  A.  On  my  arrival 
on  the  Peninsula,  I  was  appointed  Aid-de-Camp  to  Brigadier- 
General  Woodbury,  commanding  Volunteer  Engineer  Brigade, 
and  served  in  that  capacity  at  the.  siege  of  Yorktown,  and 
during  the  campaign  of  the  Peninsula  as  far  as  the  Chicka- 
hominy.  On  the  15th  day  of  May,  1862,  I  received  a  com 
mission  of  Major  of  60th  Regiment  N.  Y.  Vols.,  bearing 
date  May  1st,  1862,  my  21st  birthday.  A  coincidence  of 
Majority  both  civil  and  military.  I  reported  for  duty  to 
Colonel  Goodrich,  commanding  60th  Regiment  N.  Y.  Vols., 
at  Relay  House,  Md.,  May  24th,  1862. 

The  following  morning,  six  companies  of  the  regiment  with 
the  Colonel,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  all  the  Staff  except  the 
Assistant  Surgeon,  were  ordered  away  to  Harper's  Ferry.  I 
immediately  took  command  of  the  remaining  four  companies, 
"B,"  "C,"  "G"  and  "I."  «C"  and  "I"  were  stationed  at 
the  Relay  House.  "B"  was  near  Baltimore,  and  "G"  at 
Annapolis  Junction.  In  this  manner  we  remained,  pursuing 
such  instructions  as  our  scattered  condition  would  permit, 
until  the  25th  of  June,  when,  by  order  of  General  Wool  or 
Dix,  I  forget  which,  for  I  have  not  the  order,  we  were  sent  to 
Harper's  Ferry  to  report  to  Colonel  D.  S.  Miles,  2d  Infantry, 
U.  S.  A.,  commanding  at  that  place.  Here  we  remained, 
pleasantly  encamped,  on  Camp  Hill,  just  within  the  fortifica 
tion,  pursuing  our  drills  and  daily  improving  in  condition  and 
discipline,  until  the  middle  of  July. 

I  think  it  was  on  the  17th,  we  were  ordered  to  join  the 


UNNECESSARY    MARCHES.  141 

remainder  of  the  regiment  in  Virginia.  We  went  by  way  of 
Washington,  Alexandria  and  Warrenton,  by  rail.  The  letter 
I  wrote  to  obtain  the  order  directing  this  movement,  I  have 
no  record  of.  On  arriving  at  Warrenton,  we  were  informed 
that  the  remainder  of  the  regiment  was  then  but  five  miles 
distant,  and,  in  the  midst  of  a  drenching  rain,  at  4  P.  M.  we 
set  out  to  overtake  them.  On  arriving  at  the  spot  where  the 
camp  had  been,  we  learned  that  they  had  gone  on,  early  that 
morning,  to  Little  Washington.  We  pushed  ahead;  and,  at 
9  o'clock  in  the  evening,  reached  Waterloo,  on  the  Rappa 
hannock.  The  freshet  in  the  river  had  swept  away  the  bridges. 
Along  the  shore  was  halted  a  train  of  upwards  of  two  hundred 
wagons,  among  them  loaded  supply  trains  of  Sigel's  and 
Banks'  Corps.  We  made  our  bivouac  that  night  in  an  orchard, 
on  a  hill  overlooking  the  river,  between  Carter's  Run  and  the 
Rappahannock,  or  North  Fork,  as  it  was  called.  General 
Banks  and  Staff  were  near  us,  and  below  us  the  immense 
wagon  train.  •  The  rain  that  night  was  fearful,  and  it  poured 
in  torrents  all  the  next  day  and  night. 

In  the  morning,  the  Rappahannock  had  risen  to  a  height 
never  known  before.*  Carter's  Run,  a  little  stream  that  the 
men  waded  in  the  evening,  was  a  rushing  torrent  covering 
acres  of  land ;  and  in  the  midst  of  all  this  fury  of  waters  was 
the  train  of  wagons,  some  already  submerged,  some  where  the 
mules  and  horses  were  just  able  to  keep  their  heads  above 
water,  and  struggling  to  break  the  harness  that  held  them, 
while  others  had  been  swept  away,  with  the  sleeping  teamsters 
in  them,  down  the  swift  river.  I  immediately  set  my  men  to 
work  to  save  what  could  be  saved  from  the  destroying  flood. 
They  worked  with  a  hearty  good- will;  and,  as  General  Banks 
afterwards  said  to  me,  the  safety  of  the  army  trains  and  the 
prevention  of  an  army  famine,  from  the  loss  of  the  imperilled 


*  By   actual    measurement,   made    by    Commissary-Sergeant 
Robertson,  the  river  rose  eighteen  feet  above  its  banks. 


142  UNNECESSARY     MARCHES. 

stores,  were  due  to  the  exertions  of  my  men.  When  the  flood 
subsided,  we  repaired  the  roads ;  a  pontoon  bridge  was  thrown 
across  the  river,  and  we  moved  on.  About  the  23d  of  July, 
we  joined  the  regiment.  The  rest  of  that  sad  campaign  you 
are  familiar  with. 

EDWARD  C.  JAMES. 

Typhus  fever  now  began  to  develop  very  rapidly  among 
our  men.  On  the  22d  we  had  sixty-four  under  medical  treat 
ment,  and  near  night  of  the  same  day  Alexander  Bromaghim, 
of  Co.  "  D,"  suddenly  died. 

On  the  return  of  Hospital  Steward  Cornish,  he  reported 
that  the  following  had  died  of  the  same  disease  at  Waterloo, 
on  the  20th,  Benjamin  E.  Brooks,  of  Co.  "  H,"  and  Charles 
Force,  of  Co.  "  K."  We  also  received  intelligence  that  Lewis 
E.  Comstock,  of  Co.  "  D/'  died  of  the  same  disease,  at  War- 
renton,  on  the  19th. 

On  the  24th,  Col.  Goodrich  reported  to  Gen.  Greene  that 
we  had  but  five  captains  and  two  lieutenants  fit  for  duty,  and 
that  sickness  being  very  much  on  the  gain  among  the  men, 
we  were  not  in  a  condition  for  active  service. 

That  night  and  the  following  morning,  we  were  paid  up  to 
July  1st,  by  Major  H.  B.  lleese,  and  the  officers  and  men  were 
Yery  anxious  to  send  their  money  by  me  to  the  Express  office. 
I  was  unwilling,  however,  to  leave  while  my  services  were  so 
constantly  needed  with  the  sick.  No  immediate  effort  was 
therefore  made  to  obtain  a  leave  of  absence. 


SAD   DAYS.  143 


VIII. 

SAD    DAIS. 

ON  the  25th  of  July  we  moved  camp  about  a  mile,  for  the 
purpose  of  having  our  brigade  together.  The  hospital,  how 
ever,  remained  where  it  was,  and  rapidly  gained  in  occupants. 
The  weather  operated  very  unfavorably  on  us  all.  When  tho 
sun  was  out  it  was  most  intensely  hot,  and  frequent  showers 
kept  the  ground  constantly  steaming. 

My  contraband,  William  Moss,  Jr.,  was  almost  the  only 
person  in  camp  whose  cheerfulness  was  not  disturbed  by  the 
surrounding  circumstances.  The  hotter  the  weather,  the  hap 
pier  was  he ;  the  more  he  had  to  do,  the  louder  he  sung  ;  his 
favorite  music  being  the  chanting  of  the  following  conglome 
rate  sentence,  "  I  heard  a  voice  from  Heben,  saying  unto  me, 
We'll  all  go  over  Jordan  wid  de  great  Jubilee  !"  Sometimes 
his  cooking  utensils  would  tip  over  on  the  fire,  when  he  would 
pause  in  his  singing  long  enough  to  exclaim,  "  De  Debbil  take 
de  ole  tea  kettle  !"  and  then  go  on  with  his  chanting. 

On  the  26th,  the  surgeon's  record  showed  one  hundred  and 
forty  cases  of  typhus  fever.  Three  died  that  day,  Job  Bray- 
ton,  of  Co.  "  E,"  Valentine  Merrihue,  of  Co.  "  D,"  and  1st 
Lieut.  Loring  E.  White,  of  Co.  "  H."  The  last  hours  of 
Lieutenant  White  were  peculiarly  interesting,  and  I  here 
venture  to  describe  them,  following  a  memoranda,  which  I  made 
before  his  burial. 

I  had  been  at  the  hospital  all  day,  and  was  about  leaving 
at  three  o'clock,  when  passing  the  tent,  in  which  the  Lieuten 
ant  lay,  I  noticed  that  he  was  evidently  in  a  very  critical  con 
dition.  Hurrying  to  camp,  I  reported  his  condition  to  Capt. 
Ransom,  and  advised  him  to  go  over  immediately. 


144  SAD   DAYS. 

At  six  o'clock  intelligence  was  brought  me  that  he  was  dying. 
On  reaching  the  tent  I  found  him  very  low  and  faint,  but  he 
soon  revived.  Capt.  Ransom  said  to  him,  "  Lieutenant,  the 
doctor  says  you  are  very  sick,  and  probably  will  not  live." 

"Does  he  ?" — then,  after  a  momentary  pause,  he  added — 
."  Well,  it  is  all  the  same.  God's  will  be  done!  I  am  not 
afraid  to  die.  It  is  all  right !" 

"  I  knew  j^ou  would  feel  so,"  sai-d  Capt.  Ransom. 
" "  Yes  !  yes,  I  am  safe,  safe  !     I  shall  go  to  God !     I  shall 
see  Jesus,  blessed  Jesus  !     But  oh  !  my  poor  father !  how  he 
will  feel!     But  then  he  will  be   comforted;  he  has  faith  in 
God  !" 

"  Have  you  any  word  you  want  to  send  to  your  folks  at 
home  ?" 

"  Yes,  tell  them  all  to  be  good,  to  love  God,  and  to  live  for 
Him;  to  love  Jesus.  Pray  for  me,  Captain,  prjiy  for  them." 

"My  prayer  is  for  you,  Lieutenant ;  my&eeret  prayer  is  con 
tinually  for  you." 

"  Yes,  but  pray  for  me  now  !"  . 

The  captain  asked  me  to  pray,  and  the  lieutenant  desiring 
it,  I  offered  prayer.  His -responses  were  frequent  and  fervent, 
especially  when  thanks  were  given  for  his  sustaining  faith, 
and  supplications  were  made  for  the  loved  ones  in  his  home. 

At  the  close  of  the  prayer,  I  took  his  hand,  and  repeated 

PSALM   XXIII. 

1.  The  Lord  is  my  shepherd ;  I  shall  not  want. 

2.  He  maketh  me  to  lie  down  in  green  pastures ;  He  leadeth 
me  beside  the  still  waters. 

3.  He  restoreth  my  soul ;  He  leadeth  me  in  the  paths  of  right 
eousness  for  His  name's  sake. 

4.  Yea,  though  I  walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of 
death,  I  will  fear  no  evil:  for  Thou  art  with  me ;  Thy  rod  and 
Thy  staff  they  comfort  me. 

5.  Thou  preparest  a  table  before  me  in  the  presence  of  mine 


SAD   DAYS.  145 

enemies ;   Thou  anointest  my  head  with  oil ;   my  cup  runneth 
over. 

6.  Surely  goodness  and  mercy  shall  follow  me  all  the  days  of 
my  life :  and  I  will  dwell  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  forever. 

As  his  hearing  had  become  somewhat  dull,  he  did  not  atx 
first  understand  what  I  was  saying,  and  made  some  irrelevant 
answer;  but,  as  I  began  again  in  a  louder  tone,  he  took  up 
the  words  with  me,  and  repeated  them  with  great  satisfaction. 
His  joy  seemed  unbounded,  and  his  countenance  was  covered 
with  the  sweetest  smiles,  as  he  came  to  the  fourth  verse, 
which  he  long  dwelt  on,  and  frequently  returned  to. 

I  also  repeated  the  following  verses  from  the  Gospel : 

JpHN   XIV. 

1.  Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled :  ye  believe  in  God,  believe 
also  in  me. 

2.  In  my  Father's  house  are  many  mansions :  if  it  were  not  so, 
I  would  have  told  you.     I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you. 

3.  And  if  I  go  and  prepare  a  place  for  you,  I  will  come  again, 
and  receive  you  to  myself;  that  where  I  am,  there  ye  may  be 
also. 

4.  And  whither  I  go  ye  know,  and  the  way  ye  know. 

25.  These  things  have  I  spoken  unto  you,  being  yet  present 
with  you. 

26.  But  the  Comforter,  which  is  the  Holy  Ghost,  whom  the 
Father  will  send  in  my  name,  he  shall  teach  you  all  things,  and 
bring  all  things  to  your  remembrance,  whatsoever  I  have  said 
unto  you. 

27.  Peace  I  leave  with  you,  my  peace  I  give  unto  you:  not  as 
the  world  giveth,  give  I  unto  you.     Let  not  your  heart  be  trou 
bled,  neither  let  it  be  afraid. 

"  Oh !"  said  the  dying  man,  "  such  peace — sweet  peace  I 
Peace  ! — sweet  peace  !     Such  peace  as  Jesus  gives !     And  I 
am  going  to  Jesus !     I  shall  see  Him !     Blessed  Jesus !     I 
shall  soon  see  Him !" 
13 


146  SAD    DAYS. 

I  suggested  to  the  Captain  to  ask  him  what  disposition  he 
would  have  made  of  his  body. 

"  I  want  it  sent  home — sent  to  my  father." 

He  objected  to  having  it  embalmed.  At  first  on  the 
ground  that  his  parents  were  not  proud ;  but,  on  its  being  ex 
plained  to  him  that  it  was  not  for  the  gratification  of  pride,  but 
simply  for  the  preservation  of  the  body,  so  that  it  might  ap 
pear  natural,  and  not  be  offensive,  he  still  objected,  and  said 
it  was  of  no  consequence. 

Shortly  after  he  inquired  how  long  it  would  be  before  he 
died. 

'  Perhaps  you  may  live  half  an  hour,"  was  the  answer. 

"  Oh,  I  shall  soon  see  Jesus  !  I  am  going  to  my  blessed 
Jesus,"  said  he,  with  a  very  joyful  expression.  "But  my 
poor  father  !  How  bad  he  will  feel !  But  then  God  is  with 
him — God  is  here.  Oh,  what  peace,  sweet  peace,  he  gives 
me!" 

I  then  repeated  the  verse : 

Jesus  can  make  a  dying  bed 

Feel  soft  as  downy  pillows  are, 
While  on  His  breast  I  lean  my  head, 

And  breathe  my  life  out  sweetly  there. 

"  Say  it  again,"  said  he,  "  say  it  again  !" 

I  did  so,  and  he  joined  me,  and  afterwards  frequently  re 
peated  the  last  line. 

"  What  word  have  you  for  the  Company  ?"  asked  Captain 
Ransom. 

"  Tell  them  to  be  good ;  tell  them  to  be  Christians — to  love 
God,  and  to  follow  Jesus." 

To  Lieutenant  Fitch,  who  shortly  after  came  in,  he  repeated 
the  same,  adding  a  fervent  exhortation  to  him  to  live  for  a 
character,  and  not  for  mere  fleeting  things.  To  Sergeant 
Dickenson  he  also  gave  a  faithful  and  affectionate  exhorta 
tion. 


SAD   DAYS.  147 

About  this  time  Dr.  Gale  came  in,  and  examined  him,  and, 
at  the  Doctor's  suggestion,  I  told  him  that  there  was  a  chance 
— a  possibility — of  his  surviving ;  that  this  might  be  a  crisis 
in  the  disease,  and  that  the  only  advantage  to  be  gained  by  it 
would  depend  on  his  being  as  quiet  as  possible.  He  said  it 
was  all  the  same  to  him  whether  he  lived  or  died. 

"  I  am  resigned  to  the  will  of  God.  I  will  try  and  be 
quiet." 

Shortly  after  he  fell  asleep,  and  I  returned  to  camp.  A 
few  hours  after  he  passed  away,  quietly,  and  in  peace. 

Second  Lieutenant  M.  L.  Fitch  was  subsequently  promoted 
to  First  Lieutenant,  with  rank  from  July  25th ;  and  Orderly 
Sergeant  Charles  H.  Dickenson,  to  Second  Lieutenant,  with 
rank  from  July  26th. 

Capt.  Ransom  obtained  permission  to  take  the  corpse  to 
Washington,  but  was  not  well  enough  to  start.  Indeed,  so 
far  was  he  under  the  power  of  the  fever  at  that  time,  that  he 
now  retains  only  a  confused  and  indistinct  recollection  of 
any  of  these  circumstances.  It  was  well  that  he  did  not  start, 
for  the  body  decomposed  so  rapidly  that  he  could  not  have 
reached  Washington  with  it.  We  were  therefore  compelled 
to  bury  it  in  the  ground  Gen.  Greene  had  ordered  set  apart 
for  the  Brigade.* 

Go  to  the  grave  in  all  thy  glorious  prime, 
In  full  activity  of  zeal  and  power ; 

•  A  Christian  cannot  die  before  his  time, 

The  Lord's  appointment  is  the  servant's  hour. 
Go  to  thy  grave  ;  at  noon  from  labor  cease  ; 

Rest  on  thy  sheaves,  thy  harvest  task  is  done. 
Come  from  the  heat  of  battle,  and  in  peace, 

Soldier,  go  home  ;  with  thee  the  fight  is  won. 

*  In  Chap.  XVI.  I  have  endeavored  so  to  describe  this  ground 
that,  if  it  shall  ever  be  necessary,  the  graves  of  those  buried 
there  may  be  identified. 


148  SAD    DAYS. 

Go  to  the  grave,  for  there  thy  Saviour  lay 

In  death's  embraces,  ere  he  rose  on  high  ; 
And  all  the  ransomed,  by  that  narrow  way, 

Pass  to  eternal  life  beyond  the  sky. 
Go  to  the  grave  : — no,  take  thy  seat  above  ; 

Be  thy  pure  spirit  present  with  the  Lord, 
"Where  thou  for  faith  and  hope  hast  perfect  love, 

And  open  vision  for  the  written  word. 

On  the  28th  Gen.  Banks  reviewed  all  the  troops  in  the 
Corps.  It  was  a  very  fine  sight,  though  many  of  the  regi 
ments,  especially  in  our  brigade,  were  small,  on  account  of 
sickness.  We  had  two  companies  away,  one  on  picket,  and 
one,  Co.  "F,"  at  the  village,  on  Provost  Guard  duty.  In  the 
eight  companies  present  we  numbered  but  212«tnen  for  duty, 
the  rest  being  sick,  or  in  attendance  on  the  sick.  '  That  day 
Charles  P.  Chaffee,  of  Co.  "  I,"  died,  in  his  tent  at  Camp,  of 
congestion  of  brain.  Albert  Smithers,  of  Co.  "  F,"  died  in 
the  Free  Church,  Washington  C.  H.,  of  typhus  fever. 

On  the  30th,  the  fever  raged  like  the  plague.  We  had 
over  two  hundred  cases.  The  Medical  Director  gave  it  as  his 
opinion  that  the  regiment  would  go  to  destruction,  unless  im 
mediately  withdrawn  from  the  field ;  and  Gen.  Augur  made 
application  to  Gen.  Pope  to  send  us  either  to  some  of  the 
fortifications  about  Washington,  or  to  Harper's  Ferry.  Our 
surgeons  and  steward  were  wearied  by  constant  attendance 
on  the  sick,  and  nearly  broken  down  from  want  of  rest.  The 
Division  Surgeon  sent  some  assistants,  but  sickness  increased 
so  rapidly  that  our  medical  staff  had  quite  •as  much  to  do  as 
before. 

That  day  Corporal  Lorenzo  C.  Harrington,  of  Co.  "  K," 
died  in  the  hospital,  of  typhus.  He  had  walked  about  the 
grounds  only  a  few  hours  before  his  death. 

Louis  Beyette,  of  Co.  "  F,"  died  of  the  same  disease  in  the 
Free  Church  at  Washington  C.  H. 

On  going  over  in   the  evening  to  the  burial   of  the  last- 


SAD   DAYS.  149 

named,  the  body  of  Thomas  S.  Price,  sutler  of  the  5th  Con 
necticut  Volunteers,  who  had  died  of  the  same  disease,  was 
brought  to  the  burial  ground.  I  performed  funeral  services 
,for  both. 

On  Thursday,  the  last  day  of  July,  we  were  visited  by  med 
ical  officers  of  G-en.  Pope's  staff,  who  agreed  in  the  opinions 
expressed  by  others  that  we  ought  to  be  taken  out  of  the 
field. 

On  the  first  of  August  the  Corps  was  paraded  to  listen  to 
the  Order  and  Address  with  reference  to  the  death  of  Ex- 
President  Van  Buren,  After  the  parade  the  troops  were 
drilled  by  Gen.  Banks.  The  Sixtieth  numbered  only  about 
one  hundred,  and  of  these  several  were  so  debilitated  that 
they  fell  out  of  the  ranks  before  the  drill  was  completed. 
Some  were  so  weak  that  they  could  not  carry  their  rifles,  and 
had  to  be  assisted  back  to  camp. 

Gen.  Pope  arrived  on  the  2d,  and  established  his  head 
quarters  about  half-a-mile  to  our  left.  At  the  suggestion  of 
Gen.  Greene  I  visited  him  on  the  evening  of  his  arrival,  and 
in  an  interview  with  respect  to  the  condition  of  our  regiment, 
asked  the  privilege  of  going  to  Washington  to  express  the 
men's  money  to  their  families,  procure  delicacies  for  the  sick, 
and  necessary  articles  for  the  officers,  to  replace  such  as  had 
been  destroyed  by  the  freshet.  He  promised  to  grant  the  re 
quest  when  the  necessary  papers  should  reach  him. 

That  day,  John  Harmer  and  George  Annis,  both  of  Co. 
"  D,"  died  at  the  hospital.* 

The  next  day  Elon  G.  McKee,  of  Co.  "  A,"  died  at  the 
same  place. 

On  the  4th,  1st.  Lieut.  Guy  Hogan,  of  Co.  "  I,"  died  at 
the  same 'place,  and  1st  Lieut.  Benjamin  R.  Clark,  died  in 
the  Free  Church,  at  Washington  C.  H.  At  sunset  the  two 

*  These  were  buried  on  the  3d,  at  which  time  I  also  attended 
the  burial  of  Hamilton  Marshall,  of  Co.  "  F,"  1st  D.  C.  Vols. 
13* 


150  SAD    DAY0. 

were  buried  side  by  side  in  one  grave.  McKee  was  also 
buried  at  the  same  time. 

Gen.  Greene  and  several  of  his  staff,  many  officers  and  men 
from  other  regiments  in  the  brigade,  and  as  many  of  our  own 
command  as  were  able,  were  present.  After  reading  selections 
from  tho  Old  and  New  Testaments,  I  said  in  substance  as 
follows:  »  • 

When  we  gather  around  the  grave,  especially  under  cir 
cumstances  like  the  present,  our  thoughts  seem,  of  necessity, 
to  run  in  two  directions  :  to  dwell  on  the  sadness  that  attaches 
to  the  fact  of  our  mortality,  and  to  reach  forward  with  intense 
longing  towards  another  life. 

It  is  sad,  indeed,  to  think  that  the  skilful  hand  and  the 
quick  and  unerring  eye  goes  to  decay ;  that  the  faithful  and 
loyal  heart  is  forever  stilled ;  and  that  the  sympathizing  and 
loving  friend  can  perform  no  more  offices  of  affection  for  the 
sick  and  suffering.*  It  is  sad  to  think  of  the  anguish  that 
will  visit  the  homes  where  these  men  are  loved,  and  of  the 
loneliness  appointed  for  those  who  will  wait  in  vain  for  their 
coming. 

But  if  this  class  of  thought  brings  sorrow,  there  is  another 
thought  occupying  our  hearts  that  will,  it  is  hoped,  give  us 
abundant  comfort.  The  longing  for  immortality  sends  us  in 
search  of  the  assurance  of  it,  and  not  more  fully  do  the  scrip 
tures  of  the  Old  Testament  dwell  on  the  sorrow  and  anguish 
which  visits  the  heart  when  "  man  goes  to  his  long  home," 
than  do  those  of  the  New,  by  "  bringing  life  and  immortality 
to  light,"  console  us  with  "  hope  for  the  resurrection  of  the 
dead."  Happy  are  we  if  we  receive  and  believe  its  blessed 

*  Clark,  as  before  said,  was  a  riflemaker  by  trade,  and,  as  a 
marksman,  had  no  superior,  and  but  few  equals.  Hogan  was 
remarkably  conscientious  and  faithful  as  an  officer,  and  McKee 
had  contracted  the  disease  of  which  he  died  by  voluntarily 
nursing  the  sick. 


SAD   DAYS.  151 

assurances,  for  it  can  so  occupy  and  rejoice  our  hearts  as  to 
suffice  for  every  woe,  and  help  us  to  minister  consolation  and 
peace  to  those  whose  grief  runs  deeper  than  ours  in  view  of 
the  sad  'office  we  coine  here  to  perform.  Though  death  casts 
its  shadow  in  far-off  homes,  yet  the  beams  of  the  Sun  of 
Righteousness  can  penetrate  the  deepest  obscurity,  and  "  com 
fort  all  who  mourn." 

As  the  sickness  that  is  in  our  midst,  and  the  daily  demand 
to  bury  the  dead,  makes  constant  call  on  us  to  consider  our 
mortality,  so  let  us  seek  to  find  in  the  Word  of  God  the  hope 
ful  assurance  of  u  the  life  to  come  •"  and  offer  fervent  prayer  to 
Almighty  God  that  He  will  be  pleased  to  lift  up  the  light  of 
His  countenance  on  all  the  broken-hearted,  and  give  them  peace. 

Second  Lieutenant  N.  M.  Dickinson  was  commissioned 
First  -Lieutenant,  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  Clark's  death, 
with  rank  from  August  4th ;  and  Sergeant  Lester  S.  Willson 
was  commissioned  Second  Lieutenant,  with  rank  from  the 
same  date. 

Commissary-Sergeant  D.  M.  Robertson  was  commissioned 
First  Lieutenant  to  fill  vacancy  left  by  Hogan's  death,  with 
rank  from  the  same  date. 

These  did  not  receive  notice  of  their  promotion  till  some 
time  after  this,  but  as  I  do  not  have  it  in  my  power  to  give 
the  date  of  their  being  informed  of  the  fact,  I  insert  the  fact 
itself,  at  its  proper  date. 

Captain  David  Day  2d,  of  Company  "  B,"  having  tendered 
his  resignation,  it  was  accepted  on  the  5th,  and  First  Lieuten 
ant  John  Snyder  was  commissioned  Captain ;  Second  Lieutenant 
James  Hurst,  First  Lieutenant;  and  Sergeant  Charles  H. 
Houghton,  Second  Lieutenant — all  with  rank  from  August  4th. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  4th,  the  Medicaf  Directors  decided 
that  we  must  go  out  of  the  field  at  once,  and  we  received 
orders  to  leave  for  Fauquier  White  Sulphur  Springs,  at  War- 
renton,  distant  eighteen  miles  from  our  camp,  at  7  o'clock  the 
next  morning.  At  this  time  we  had  311  sick  with  the  fever. 


152  BAD   DAYS. 

During  the  evening  of  the  4th,  James  Handley,  of  Com 
pany  "  E,"  and  Edward  Finley,  of  Company  "  A,"  both  died 
at  the  hospital. 

The  next  morning  our  well  men  started  for  the  Springs.  I 
received  five  days  leave  of  absence  from  General  Pope,  but 
declined  using  it  till  the  sick  were  removed,  and  remained  at 
the  hospital  with  them.  At  noon,  Frederick  Miller,  of  Com 
pany  "  H,"  died. 

The  three  last  named  were  buried  on  the  morning  of  the 
6th,  and  at  noon  that  day  I  attended  the  funerals  of  Denard 
Sterling,  Company  "  G,"  and  Elisha  Parker,  Company  "  D," 
Purnell  Legion,  Maryland  Vols.,  and  later  in  the  day,  the 
funeral  of  George  Campbell,  Company  "  G,"  1st  District  of 
Columbia  Vols.  It  was  the  Jiottest  day  I  ever  saw.  The  air 
seemed  motionless,  and  our  poor  fever-burning  men  were  gasp 
ing  for  breath.  Ambulances  were  provided  for  us,  and  we 
started  100  men  for  the  Springs.  The  Corps  marched  that 
day  for  Culpepper,  and  at  night  we  were  left  alone  with  the 
sick.  ^  -.." 

The  next  day,  as  none  then  with  us  were  considered  in  im 
minent  danger,  and  as  it  would  take  several  days  to  get  them 
removed  to  the  Springs,  and  comfortably  fixed  there,  Dr. 
Gale  suggested  that  it  would  t»e  as  good  an  opportunity  as  any 
that  might  be  likely  to  offer,  for  me  to  avail  myself  of  my 
leave  of  absence.  I  accordingly  left  late  that  afternoon  for 
the  Springs,  and  arrived  there  at  10  P.  M.,  leaving  the  next 
morning,  at  7  for  Warrenton  Village,  where,  at  10,  I  took  cars 
for  Alexandria.  There  was  no  room  for  me  inside,  as  all  the 
cars  were  filled  with  sick  men  going  to  Alexandria  and  Wash 
ington.  I  therefore  took  my  seat  on  the  roof  of  a  freight  car, 
and  we  started  off.  I  had  with  me  $9,870,  belonging  to  our 
own  officers  and  men,  and  about  $3,000,  belonging  to  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  78th  Regiment  N.  Y.  S.  Vols. 

As  the  train  was  an  extra  and  irregular  one,  we  had  to  give 
way  to  all  others,  and  consequently  did  not  reach  Alexandria 


SAD   DAYS.  153 

till  4  P.  M.  The  sun  beat  upon  us  all  the  way,  and  the  pain 
in  my  head  was  almost  intolerable.  I  went  on  to  Washington 
that  night,  where  I  found  Quartermaster  Merritt  and  Ira  B. 
Whitford;  then  on  their  way  to  join  the  regiment.  The  former 
had  been  absent  since  the  first  of  June,  at  which  time  he  was 
detailed,  as  befor.6  mentioned,  to  assist  Captain  Saint,  at  Har 
per's  Ferry,  and  the  latter  had  been  sick  at  the  Relay.  I  oc 
cupied  a  room  with  them  during  the  night,  but  got  no  sleep, 
owing  to  heat  and  pain  in  my  head. 

On  reaching  Baltimore  the  next  day,  I  was  compelled  to 
take  to  the  bed  and  summon  a  physician,  who  gave  it  as  his 
opinion  that  I  had  but  just  escaped  sun-stroke.  I  remained 
at  home,  under  medical  treatment,  till  4  A.  M.  of  the  13th, 
when  I  again  started  for  the  regiment,  and  reached  it  at  7  P. 
M.,  the  same  day ;  having  been  fortunate  enough  to  get  a  ride 
on  a  locomotive  from  the  Junction  to  Warrenton,  and  from 
thence  by  an  ox-team  to  the  Springs. 


154  THE    SULPHUR    SPRINGS. 


IX. 

THE  SULPHUR  SPRINGS. 

A  PLACE  so  much  resorted  to  as  the  Fauquier  White  Sulphur 
Springs  had  been  for  at  least  thirty  years  previous  to  the 
rebellion,  probably  has  an  interesting  history,  if  one  could 
only  get  at  it;  but  it  is  exceedingly  difficult  and  often  im 
possible  to  find  any  published  account  of  towns,  villages,  or 
watering-places  in  the  South.  In  Virginia,  at  least,  even 
those  who  live  nearest  to  localities  which,  by  their  condition 
and  surroundings  show  that  they  have  been  known  and  visited 
for  years,  are  unable  to  answer  the  simplest  questions  which 
may  be  put  in  regard  to  the  age,  value  or  improvement 
of  the  place.  It  would  seem  as  if  the  hope  expressed  by 
Berkeley,  Governor  of  that  State  in  1670,. had  been  cherished 
as  a  noble  ambition,  and  had  not  yet  ceased  to  override  the 
limits  in  which  he  was  satisfied  to  place  it :  "I  thank  God 
there  are  no  free  schools  nor  printing,  and  I  hope  we  shall  not 
have  these  hundred  years." 

Although  during  some  seasons,  as  the  hotel  register  showed, 
three  thousand  people  visited  these  Springs,  no  chemical 
analysis  has  yet  been  made  of  the  water ;  and  the  only  account 
I  have  seen  of  its  medicinal  qualities  is  given  in  a  pamphlet 
by  a  Rev.  Mr.  Stringfellow,  who  seems  to  have  been  an  ardent 
admirer  of  the  place,  and  who,  from  the  frequent  recurrence 
of  his  name  on  the  register,  and.-  the  absence  of  it  in -the  ac 
count  books  of  the  corresponding  period,  was,  I  suspect,  either 
a  partner  or  a  "  deadhead"  in  the  establishment.  His  little 
work  opens  with  an  exceedingly  highfalutin  description  of 


THE    SULPHUR   SPRINGS.  155 

original  sin,  chiefly  as  it  is  manifest  in  physical  maladies ;  and 
from  this  he  passes  to  a  detailed  description  of  the  cures  per 
formed  by  the  Springs  on  some  thirty  or  more  patients,  who, 
it  would  seem  from  his  account,  were  afflicted  with  all  a  the 
ills  that  flesh  is  heir  to."  Diseases  the  most  opposite  in  their 
character,  are  mentioned  side  by  side,  as  having  yielded  at 
once  to  the  marvellous  powers  of  the  water ;  and  the  logical 
conclusion  seems  to  be  that  sulphur,  thus  held  in  solution,  can 
wash  away  all  the  physical  maladies  entailed  by  Adam.  Not  an 
unimportant  discovery,  if  true,  and  certainly  a  more  charitable 
use  of  the  mineral  for  sinners  than  has  generally  been  received 
as  orthodox ! 

Of  the  history  of  the  place,  I  have  gathered  a  few  scraps  of 
information,  which  I  insert  here,  believing  that  they  will 
prove  interesting  to  the  members  of  the  regiment  who  may 
read  them. 

It  appears  that  the  medicinal  qualities  of  the  water  were 
known  and,  to  a  considerable  extent,  appreciated  in  the  neigh 
borhood,  long  before  it  was  generally  resorted-  to;  but  the 
owner  of  the  farm  thinking  that  the  constant  and  persevering 
visits  of  his  neighbors  interfered  with  his  agricultural  opera 
tions,  filled  the  spring  up  with  stones  and  rubbish,  making  an 
effectual  blockade. 

John  Hancock  Lee,  who  thought  that  money  might  be 
made  in  the  operation,  bought  the  farm,  and  sometime  about 
1830  opened  the  spring  to  the  public.  Visitors  soon  became 
so  numerous  that  it  was  found  necessary  to  enlarge  the  accom 
modations.  Extensive  improvements  were  planned,  and  Thos. 
Greene,  Esq.,  a  man  of  wealth,  united  with  Mr.  Lee  in  the 
enterprise.  They  continued  to  build  until  they  had  erected 
accommodations  for  eight  hundred  guests.  These  buildings 
were  all  standing  when  we  took  possession  of  the  place. 

The  main  building,  called  by  the  proprietors  Ae  Pavilion, 
was  188  feet  long  and  four  stories  high,  having  a  portico  on  its 
eastern  and  western  sides.  Opposite  this,  to  the  east,  was  an- 


156  THE    SULPHUR    SPRINGS 

other  Pavilion,  100  feet  long  and  four  stories  high,  which,  it 
was  intended,  should  be  connected  with  the  main  Pavilion 
by  means  of  an  arch,  but  when  the  timbers  were  nearly  ready 
to  put  up,  the  workshop  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  this  part 
of  the  design  remained  unexecuted. 

Besides  these  two  Pavilions  there  were  two  large  brick 
buildings,  three  stories  high  and  56  feet  long;  two  others  of 
the  same  length,  two  stories  high,  and  twelve  one-story  brick 
cottages,  each  56  feet  long. 

These  improvements,  and  1184  acres  of  land  lying  north 
of  the  Rappahannock  river,  together  with  1750  acres  on  the 
south  bank,  were  conveyed,  in  1837,  by  Thomas  Greene  and 
Hancock  Lee,  to  a  company,  in  2500  shares,  at  $68  per  share, 
making,  for  the  whole,  $170,000. 

Mr.  Hudgings,  who  had  heavily  endorsed  for  this  company 
or  its  agents,  was  in  possession  of  the  place  in  1862,  and  re 
sided  there  up  to  the  time  of  its  destruction. 

During  the  yellow-fever  season  of  1855,  the  Virginia  Legis 
lature  held  its  sessions  at  the  Springs ;  and  .the  accommoda 
tions  not  being  sufficient,  for  all  thus  attracted  to  the  place, 
tents  were  erected  on  the  lawn. 

After  the  first  battle  at  Bull  Run,  the  rebel  authorities  took 
possession  of  the  place  for  hospital  purposes.  The  mortality 
among  their  wounded  was  fearful. 

We  used  the  two  pavilions  for  hospitals,  and  the  three-story 
buildings  for  quartermaster's  stores  and  lodgings ;  the  band 
occupied  one  of  the  two-story  buildings,  the  officers  the  other 
and  the  cottages.  The  officers  messed  together  in  the  small 
dining  room  of  the  main  building,  the  servants  using  the 
kitchen  with  its  ovens  and  utensils.  Occasionally  the  servants 
got  up  a  small  war  among  themselves.  Mediator  Ross  and 
"William  Moss,  Jr.  were  the  principal  antagonists,  and  though 
they  did  not  injure  each  other's  heads  to  any  great  extent, 
they  managea  to  break  up  a  coffee  pot  or  two,  and  some  other 
tin  ware. 


THE   SULPHUR   SPRINGS.  157 

Colonel  Moses  Green,  who  commanded  the  2d  Elite  Corps 
of  Virginia  Militia,  during  the  last  war  with  Great  Britain, 
had  made  his  home  at  the  Springs  for  several  years  previous 
to  his  death.  The  records -of  his  command,  containing  also 
the  muster-rolls  of  the  several  companies,  among  them  one 
commanded  for  a  while  by  the  .late  John  Tyler,  I  brought 
away  with  me  when  we  left  the  place,  and  have  it  now  in  my 
possession,  as  also  the  orderly  sergeant's  book,  of  Co.  "N," 
Adam's  troop  1st  Regt.  Virginia  rebel  Cavalry,  which  had 
evidently  been  left  there  by  mistake. 

A  Post  Office  had  been  established  at  the  Springs  several 
years.  I  found  the  desks  and  other  property  very  convenient 
while  we  remained,  and  when  it  was  proposed  to  destroy  what 
we  could  not  take  away  of  our  own,  on  leaving,  I  put  the 
P.  0.  letter  scales  in  my  trunk ;  and  should  a  loyal  office  ever 
be  established  in  the  neighborhood  again,  I  propose  visiting 
the  place,  and  will  restore  the  property  to  its  legitimate  use. 

Lieut.-Col.  Brundage,  who  had  been  home  under  medical 
treatment  since  July  1st.,  had  returned  to  the  regiment,  while 
I  was  away,  and  although  still  weak,  was  very  much  improved 
in  health.  We  had  supposed  him  very  near  his  end  when  he 
left  us,  and  his  return  was  therefore  a  great  surprise. 

During  my  absence,  the  following  had  died  of  the  fever : 

On  the  7th,  in  the  Free  Church,  at  ^Washington  C.  H., 
John  F.  Page,  of  Co.  "  F."  At  the  hospital,  near  Washing 
ton  C.  II.,  Drum-Major  Wilder  P.  Ellis.  The  former  was 
buried  in  the  village. burial  ground,  and  the  latter  in  the  bri 
gade  ground. 

The  following  died  at  the  Springs  : 

On  the  9th,  George  W.  Daggett,  yf  Co.  « I." 

10th,  John  Cardinell,  Co.  «D,"  Levi  J.  Barton,  Co.  «E," 
and  George  R.  Rie.s,  of  the  Band. 

13th,  George  Sewell,  Co.  "  F."  Funeral  services  for  these 
five  were  performed  by  Capt.  J.  H.  Jones. 

On  the  15th,  Quartermaster  Sergeant  Bordwell  went  to 
14 


158  THE    SULPHUR   SPRINGS. 

Culpepper,  from  which  place  we  drew  all  our  stores,  for  sup 
plies.  While  riding  through  the  place,  his  collar  bone  was 
badly  broken  by  the  stumbling  and  falling  of  his  horse.  It 
laid  him  up  for  several  months.  That  day  forty-eight  new 
cases  of  fever  were  reported.  Three  hundred  and  fifty  of 
ficers  and  men  were  very  sick  in  the  buildings,  and  between 
fifty  and  sixty  who  had  the  disease  in  a  lighter  form,  were 
sick  in  the  tents.  Major  James  had  some  alarming  symptoms, 
and  made  application  for  leave  of  absence,  but  a  favorable 
change  occurring  in  a  few  days,  he  remained  with  us.  Dr. 
Gale  was  compelled  to  take  to  his  bed,  and  Dr.  Chambers  was 
hardly  able  to  keep  about.  Robertson,  whose  labors  had  been 
arduous  and  incessant  in  the  quartermaster's  department,  as 
well  as  in  his  own,  was  also  prostrated. 

On  the  16th,  Principal  Musician  Sanford  Blaisdell  died. 

The  next  morning  the  following  document  was  sent  from 
our  camp : 

.   FAUQUIER  SULPHUR  SPRINGS,  VA. 

Aug.  17,  1862. 
DR.  RAUCH, 

Medical  Director  Maj.-Gen.  Augur's  Division. 
Dear  Doctor :  The  sickness  in  our  regiment  is  on  the  increase, 
both  in  number  of  cases  and  severity. 

It  was  ardently  hoped  that  the  rest  and  conveniences  afforded 
at  this  place  would  have  a  beneficial  effect  upon  the  spirits  of  the 
men,  and  perhaps  tend  to  a  more  speedy  recovery. 

Thus  far  this  anticipation  has  been  disappointed,  and  our  pa 
tients  are  daily  growing  worse.  In  the  past  five  days  we  have 
lost  six  cases,  and  three  more  will  doubtless  soon  die. 

Humanity  prompts  me  to  ask  and  urge  a  removal  farther  north 
— as  far  north  as  our  Government  has  military  duty  to  do.  My 
own  health  is  very  poor,  having  been  confined  to  my  room  for 
the  past  four  days. 

Very  Respectfully, 
JAMES  S.  GALE, 

Surgeon  60th  Regt.  N.  Y.  S.  V. 


THE    SULPHUR    SPRINGS.  159 

Had  this  letter  been  sent  a  few  days  sooner,  it  would  in  all 

probability  have  accomplished  something  for  our  relief;  but 

it  was  not  possible  at  that  late  hour  to  do  what  we  desired. 

The  letter  was  subsequently  returned  to  Dr.  Gale  with  the 

,  following  endorsements : 

"Headquarters,  2d  Division,  2d  Army  Corps  Army  of  Va., 
18th  Aug.,  1862.  Approved  and  respectfully  forwarded. 

GEO.  S.  GREENE, 
Brig.-Gen.,  Commanding  2d  Division. 

Headquarters,  Augur's  Division, 

CULPEPPER,  Aug.  19,  1862. 

I  heartily  commend  the  within  suggestions,  and  I  hope  they 
will  be  carried  out  immediately.  JOHN  H.  RAUCH, 

Medical  Director. 

Headquarters,  Banks'  Army  Corps, 

DAMASCUS,  Md.,  Sept.  11,  1862. 

Respectfully  returned,   the    General   commanding,  assuming 
that  the  necessity  for  a  change  in  locality  has  ceased. 
By  command  of 

Brig.-General,  A.  S.  WILLIAMS. 
S.  E.  PITTMAN, 

Lieut,  and  A.  A.  A.  G. 

We  got  a  rumor,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  17th,  that  the 
guerillas  had  taken  Washington  C.  H.,  and  that  they  were 
organizing  a  band  to  attack  us.  The  nurses  and  all  the  well 
were  provided  with  arms  and  ammunition,  and  we  sent  out  a 
strong  picket,  determined  to  be  prepared  to  give,  them  a  warm 
reception. 

On  the  18th  Ephraim  L.  Wright,  of  Co.  "G,"  died  with 
the  fever.  This  was  the  first  death  that  had  occurred  in  that 
company.  Some  sixty  or  more  new  cases  of  fever  were  re 
ported  that  day. 

The  next  morning  at  3  o'clock  Gen.  Banks  and  staff  arrived 
at  the  Springs.  The  fight  at  Cedar  Mountain,  near  Culpepper 
had  showed  that  the  rebels  were  too  strong  to  be  driven, 


160  THE   SULPHUR   SPRINGS. 

and  it  was  deemed  prudent  to  fall  back,  and  prevent,  if  possible, 
their  flanking  us.  During  that  day  and  the  next  the  troops 
were  constantly  coming  in  from  below,  and  by  dark  on  the  20th, 
they  were  all  encamped  near  us.  From  the  roof  of  the  build 
ing  we  were  using  as  the  principal  hospital,  it  appeared 
from  the  camp-fires  in  the  evening,  as  though  we  were  in  the 
centre  of  a  large  city.  A  Massachusetts  volunteer,  whose 
name  I  have  lost,  as  my  memoranda  of  this  and  other  matters 
was  destroyed  by  fire  in  our  subsequent  retreat,  died  on  the  road, 
and  was  buried  by  us  in  the  evening.  While  the  burial  ser 
vice  was  being  performed  a  battery  of  Sigel's  artillery  took 
position  in  the  midst  of  our  graves.  I  had  no  opportunity  to 
-  visit  the  spot  afterwards,  but  as  some  sharp  fighting  was  had 
there  a  few  days  after,  and  the  hill  subsequently  occupied  by 
'the  rebels,  I  have  no  doubt  that  it  would  now  be  very  difficult 
to  identify  the  graves  ;  but  in  a  subsequent  chapter  I  will  give, 
as  near  as  I  can  describe  it,  the  locality  of  the  spot,  and  the 
relative  position  of  the  graves. 

We  were  informed  sometime  during  the  night  that  it  was 
necessary  that  we  should  leave  the  place,  and  that  ambu 
lances  and  wagons  would  be  provided  in  the  morning  for 
the  removal  of  the  sick.  From  7  o'clock  till  noon,  all  who 
were  able  to  work  had  as  much  as  they  could  do  in  getting 
the  sick  ready  to  move.  At  2  o'clock,  525  sick  men  were 
loaded  in  the  wagons,  and  started  for  Bealton  Station,  distant 
eight  and  a  half  miles,  but  owing  to  carelessness  on. the  part 
of  some  one  who  was  to  have  given  the  proper  direction  of 
the  route,  they  travelled  twenty-eight  miles  before  arriving  at 
their  destination,  which  they  did  not  reach  till'  9  o'clock  the 
next  morning. 

Meanwhile,  the  well  who  remained  at  the  Springs  were 
busy  in  filling  the  few  wagons  that  were  left  with  our  camp 
and  garrison  equipage.  Such  as  we  could  not  make  room  for, 
was  piled  up  and  burned.  We  were  sorry  to  give  them  to  the 


THE   SULPHUR    SPRINGS,  161 

flames,  but  preferred  it  to  letting  them  fall  into  the  hands  of 
the  rebels. 

At  5  o'clock  we  started  to  rejoin  our  sick,  as  we  supposed, 
but  on  reaching  Bealton.  were  ordered  to  report  to  General 
Pope,  then  near  Rappahannock  Station.  The  night  was  in 
tensely,  dark,  but  we  pushed  on  two  or  more  miles  till  we  came 
to  Edward's  River,  where  the  halt  made  by  the  rear  of  the 
column  in  waiting  for  the  advance  to  ford  the  stream,  was 
construed  by  us  into'  an  order  for  a  permanent  halt,  and 
after  waiting  a  few  moments,  and  getting  no  command  to  ad 
vance,  we  concluded  the  halt  was  general,  built  fires  and  laid 
down  to  sleep.  Morning  disclosed  the  fact  to  Major  James 
that  the  few  with  us,  not  more  than  fifty  in  all,  were  the  only 
troops  in  sight.  We  pushed  on  at  once  to  find  our  companions, 
and  rejoined  them  some  four  miles  further  on,  just  as  they 
had  been  ordered  to  take  position  in  the  field. 

We  understood,  when  we  left  the  Springs,  that  we  were  to 
go  with  and  take  care  of  our  sick.  Nearly  all  of  us  were 
more  or  less  debilitated,  and  needed  quiet  and  nursing;  we 
were  therefore  somewhat  surprised  when,  instead  of  the  rest 
we  had  expected,  we  found  ourselves  drawn  up  in  line  of  bat 
tle,  near  the  centre  of  our  forces,  the  cannon  firing  rapidly  on 
our  right  and  also  on  our  left.  We  did  not  remain  here  long, 
for  General  Greene  soon  passed  by  with  his  Brigade,  and  we 
were  ordered  to  "  fall  in,"  which  we  did,  and  marched  off  to 
a  piece  of  woods  on  our  right. 

General  Banks'  Corps  was  General  SigePs  Reserve,  and  we 
accomplished,  for  several  days  after,  a  great  amount  of  march 
ing  and  counter-marching,  in  order  to  be  in  readiness  to  throw 
ourselves  'on  any  point  where  we  might  be  most  needed. 
General  Sigel  kept  up  a  constant  firing,  and  we  were  almost 
in  perpetual  motion. 

We  rejoined  the  Brigade  on  Friday,  the  22d.     In  the  even 
ing  of  that  day,  Dr.  Chambers  and  myself  rode  over  to  Beal 
ton,  to  see  how  the  sick  were  doing.     About  fifty  had  been 
14* 


162  THE   SULPHUR   SPRINGS. 

sent  to  Alexandria  that  day,  and  Dr.  .Gale  had  gone  with 
them.  Dr.  Charles  H.  Burbeck,  our  Second  Assistant  Sur 
geon,  who  had  been  commissioned  August  llth,  was  present 
with  the  remainder. 

We  remained  at  Bealton  till  noon  the  next  day.  About 
two  hours  before  noon  it  was  reported,  and  very  generally  be 
lieved,  that  the  rebels  had  outflanked  us  on  the  right.  Im 
mediately  every  sick  man  that  was  able  to  walk  was  started 
on  foot  for  Manassas ;  the  cars  were  loaded  with  such  as  were 
not  able  to  go  on  foot,  and  the  nurses  sent  back  to  the  regi 
ment.  Quartermaster  Merrit  came  up  about  this  time,  and  ky 
great  industry,  we  managed  to  load  everything  that  belonged 
to  the  ^Hospital  Department  into  the  wagons.  He  went  on 
with  the  baggage  train,  and  Dr.  Chambers  and  myself  started 
to  find  our  regiment. 


THE   RETREAT   THROUGH   VIRGINIA.  163 


X. 

THE  RETREAT  THROUGH  VIRGINIA. 

FROM  noon  till  dark  the  Doctor  and  myself  searched  in  vain 
for  the  regiment.  We  seemed  to  find  every  brigade  in  the 
army  except  our  own.  At  9  o'clock  we  gave  up  for  the  night, 
and,  turning  into  a  piece  of  woods  where  some  troops  were,  we 
hitched  our  horses,  and  laid  down  to  sleep.  Shortly  after 
midnight  we  were  awakened,  and  told  to  put  off,  as  the  rear 
guard  had  just  commenced  passing.  Going  on  about  four 
miles  we  halted  in  a  cornfield,  where,  after  cutting  cornstalks 
for  our  horses,  we  laid  down  again  and  slept. 

At  sunrise  the  next  morning  (Sunday,  24th),  we  renewed 
our  search.  Dr.  Chambers  gave  it  up  at  noon,  and  preferred 
to  find  out  something  definite  before  going  further.  I  pushed 
on,  and  at  4  o'clock  came  upon  the  regiment,  about  three  miles 
from  Sulphur  Springs.  Soon  after  joining  them,  we,, marched 
in  the  direction  of  the  Springs.  In  passing  out  of  a  piece  of 
woods,  to  cross  an  open  field,  the  rebels  fired  on  us  from  a 
masked,  battery,  and  badly  wounded  James  E.  White,  of  Com 
pany  H.  Lester  Willson,  then  acting  Sergeant-Major,  rode 
in  company  with  me  at  the  rear.  We  were  just  turning  the 
corner  when  White  fell,  but  were  ordered  by  a  staff  officer, 
who  stood  near,  and  whose  excitement  was  very  great,  to  dri\e 
round  at  a  shorter  turn,  and  ascend  the  hill  an%ong  the  pines 
He  led  the  way  in  haste,  and  we  followed,  though  by  so  doing 
we  afforded  a  better  mark  for  the  rebels  than  if  we  had  kept 
on  lower  down  Before  they  could  train  their  guns  on  us, 


164  THE    RETREAT    THROUGH    VIRGINIA. 

however,  Sigel  had  found  them  out,  and,  with  a  battery  of 
Wiard's  steel  rifled  guns — pronounced  by  General  Sigel  the 
best  cannon  in  use — had  destroyed  their  anibush,  and  driven 
them  away. 

We  made  our  way  back  to  the  rear  as  soon  as  we  could  get 
out  of  the  pines,  and  met  a  small  party  bringing  White  to  the 
rear,  Willson  pushed  forward  to  rejoin  the  regiment,  and  I 
remained  behind  till  the  wound  was  temporarily  dressed,  and 
the  suffering  man  was  removed  to  a  place  where  he  could  be 
better  attended  to.  It  was  the  first  wound  I  had  ever  seen  in 
battle,  and,  at  the  time,  was  the  most  horrible  thing  I  had 
ever  witnessed ;  though  since  then  I  have  looked  upon  those 
that  were  far  worse.  •  He  was  struck  with  a  six-pound  solid 
shot  in  the  largest  part  of  the  thigh,  and  with  such  force  that, 
although  the  bone  was  not  injured,  the  flesh  was  so  peeled 
from  it  that  from  the  knee-joint  nearly  to  the  hip  the  bone 
was  all  exposed  to  view. 

With  others  wounded -that  day  at  other  points  along  the 
line,  White  was  taken  to  Washington,  and,  on  the  28th,  died 
at  Armory  Square  Hospital. 

On  rejoining  the  regiment  it  was  ascertained  that  we  were 
out  of  rations,  and  that  none  could  be  obtained  short  of  War- 
renton.  Adjutant  Gale  was  ordered  to  take  teams  and  go, 
and,  for  the  sake  of  company  and  adventure,  I  accompanied 
him,  anticipating  and  promising  ourselves  a  good  supper  and 
a  comfortable  bed  when  we  should  get  there.  At  about  11 
in  the  evening  we  reached  the  place,  but  there  was  no  room 
for  us  at  the  inns,  nor  could  we  obtain  anything  for  ourselves 
to  eat  nor  food  or  shelter  for  our  horses.  Hitching  the  latter 
to  a  tree  in  the  street,  we  laid  down  on  some  benches  on  the 
piazza  of  the  hotel,  and  went  to  sleep. 

In  the  morning  we  applied  for  breakfast.  There  was 
nothing  to  eat  in  the  house,  and  it  was  uncertain  when  there 
would  be.  The  rebels,  who  were  there  a  few  days  before,  had 
emptied  the  store-room,  and  General  Pope  and  staff,  then 


THE   RETREAT    THROUGH    VIRGINIA.  165 

there,  must  have  the  first  that  was  obtained.  Hunting  up 
our  teams,  we  got  a  chance  to  eat  with  the  teamsters,  and  also 
found  feed  for  our  horses.  Dr.  Chambers  had  got  round  to 
this  place,  hunting  for  the  regiment.  We  put  him  in  the 
way  to  get  something  to  eat,  and,  after  getting  our  teams 
loaded  and  started,  re-fortified  ourselves- with  another  break 
fast,  and  started  for  Waterloo,  near  which  place  we  overtook 
the  regiment  about  noon. 

Cornish,  who  was  hunting  up  the  hospital  stores,  ventured 
a  little  too  near  the  river,  and  was  reminded  by  the  close  pas 
sage  of  a  rifle  ball  that  the  rebels  were  not  far  off.  They  did 
not  venture,  however,  to  cross  the  stream,  but  withdrew  in  a 
short  time,  and  at  5  o'clock  we  also  took  the  back  track  to 
ward  Bealton  Station.  WTe  halted  for  the  night  about  three 
miles  north  of  the  Springs.  During  the  day  the  rebels 
having  put  their  sharpshooters  into  the  buildings  we  had  oc 
cupied,  for  the  purpose  of  picking  off  our  artillerymen,  Gene 
ral  Sigel  set  the  houses  on  fire  with  his  bombs,  and  the  place 
was  entirely  destroyed. 

The  next  morning  we  were  on  the  march  at  sunrise,  but 
had  not  gone  more  than  half  a  mile  when  the  artillery  to  our 
left,  having  discovered  the  rebels,  opened  on  them,  and  we 
were  immediately  masked  in  a  piece  of  woods,  ready  for  use 
where  we  might  at  any  moment  be  wanted.  We  remained 
there  all  day.  At  dark  we  were  ordered  to  fall  in,  and  pre 
pare  to  march  j  but  no  further  orders  coming,  we  remained 
half  awake  and  half  asleep  till  morning.  William  Moss,  Jr., 
entertained  us  in  a  very  comical  way  for  awhile,  and  Major 
James,  as  I  think  he  has  not  forgotten,  collected  some  phos 
phorated  wood,  and  extemporized  some  luminous  shoulder- 
straps. 

On  Wednesday  we  started  for  Warrenton  Junction,  and,  at 
dark,  halted  about  a  mile  south  of  that  place.  Soon  after 
midnight  word  came  that  the  rebels  were  in  our  rear,  driving 
in  our  pickets.  We  were  sent  out  to  skirmish,  but  found  no 


166  THE   RETREAT   THROUGH    VIRGINIA. 

enemy,  and,  after  waiting  till  daylight,  returned  to  camp, 
where,  taking  a  hasty  breakfast,  we  started  for  the  Junction. 
Arriving  there,  everything  had  been  taken  away,  and  it  be 
came  evident  to  all  that  we  were  retreating. 

From  the  Junction  we  pushed  on  to  Catlett's  Station,  where  < 
an  immense  train  of  wagons  were  receiving  every  kind  of 
Government  property.  Halting  here  till  all  the  troops  passed, 
our  brigade  took  position  behind  the  train,  and  became  the 
rear-guard  of  that  entire  portion  of  the  army.  It  was  past 
noon  before  we  again  got  under  way,  and  late  in  the  evening 
when  we  halted  for  the  night,  near  Bristow  Station.  The 
railroad  bridge  over  Kettle  Run,  just  north  of  this  Station, 
had  been  destroyed  by  the  rebels  the  day  before;  hence  our 
long  train,  containing  sick  and  wounded  men,  was  at  a  stand 
still  at  this  place. 

I  got  information,  soon  after  we  halted,  that  Mr.  Wright,  the 
Leader  of  our  Band,  was  in  one  of  the  cars,  in  a  very  critical 
condition.  Dr.  White,  the  physician  in  charge,  gave  it  as  his 
opinion  that  he  could  not  survive  through  the  night,  and  ad 
vised  that  he  be  informed  of  his  condition.  On  entering  the 
car  where  he  lay,  I  found  him  very  weak  and  low,  but  hopeful  « 
orrecovery.  It  was  very  trying  to  break  to  him  the  sad  fact 
of  his  real  condition,  and  the  seeming  certainty  of  his  dis 
solution.  In  as  indirect  manner  as  was  possible  with  me,  I 
brought  him  by  degrees  to  see  that,  in  all  probability,  his  life 
was  drawing  rapidly  to  a  close,  and  that  it  was  necessary  for 
him  to  say  ajid  do  at  once  whatever  he  might  wish. 

His  look  of  disappointment,  and  the  agonizing  shudder 
which  shook  him,  I  shall  never  forget.  Life  was  very  dear  to 
him,  and  recent  events  had  made  it  peculiarly  attractive.  He 
had  but  recently  been  home  on  a  sick  leave,  and,  after  recovery 
from  his  disease,  had  taken  him  a  wife.  Rejoining  us  just  as 
we  were  preparing  to  go  to  the  Springs,  the  Band  had  there 
received  official  notice  that  they  were  to  be  discharged  from 
the  service;  and,  as  he  remarked,  "  it  was  hard  to  die  just  as 


THE    RETREAT    THROUGH   VIRGINIA.  167 

life  seemed  so  attractive."     After  conversation  and  prayer,  he 
manifested  much  resignation,  and  I  left  him. 

Early  in  the  morning,  I  saw  him  again.  There  appeared 
to  be  a  change  for  "the  better,  and  the  Doctor  thought  there 
was  a  chance  for  his  life.  While  I  remained  with  him,  the 
regiment  passed,  and  I  was  soon  compelled  to  follow  on,  and 
overtook  them  just  as  they  were  fording  the  Run.  We  had 
hardly  crossed  before  the  order  came  to  countermarch,  and 
back  we  went  to  the  vicinity  of  the  train.  Rebel  cavalry 
having  been  seen  near  by,  it  was  necessary  that  we  should 
protect  the  sick  and  the  stores.  The  sick  were  loaded  in 
ambulances  and  wagons,  and  sent  on  towards  Washington  by 
the  turnpike. 

Arriving  in  Alexandria,  Mr.  Wright  was  placed  on  board  a 
Steamer  bound  for  New  York ;  but  in  a  few  hours  was  trans 
ferred  to  the  steamer  Connecticut,  bound  for  Portsmouth 
Grove,  R.  I.  The  next  day  he  was  put  on  board  the  steam 
ship  Daniel  Webster,  and  started  for  New  York.  He  died 
just  before  reaching  New  York,  on  the  morning  of  Septem 
ber  5th. 

We  remained  near  the  train  till  8  o'clock  the  next  morning, 
when  everything  that  could  be  carried  away  was  taken  out, 
and  such  as  there  was  no  transportation  for,  was  with  the  cars 
and  locomotives,  given  to  the  flames.  We  then  started  for 
Manassas,  the  distance  being,  in  a  direct  line,  three  and  a 
half  miles ;  but,  as  the  rebels  were  said  to  be  in  force  between 
us  and  there,  we  took  a  round-about  course,  and  made  a  march 
of  fifteen  miles. 

Captains  Smith  and  Elliott,  and  some  others,  walked  down 
the  track  for  the  purpose  of  getting  some  things  out  of  their  . 
trunks,  which,  they  had  been  informed,  had  been  taken  out 
of  the  wagons.  Smith  got  through  safe,  but  Elliott  was  sur 
prised  by  the  rebels,  taken  prisoner,  and  sent  down  to  Rich 
mond. 

On  our  reaching  Manassas,  we  found  that  all  our  teams  ex- 


168        THE  EETEEAT  THROUGH  VIRGINIA. 

cepting  the  one  loaded  with  Headquarters'  and  Field  and  Staff 
property,  had  been  unloaded,  and  were  drawing  ammunition 
to  the  battle-field,  some  three  miles  distant.  Hospital  stores, 
officers'  trunks,  sick  men's  guns  and  knapsacks,  all  lay  in  a 
pile  together.  Whitford  and  R.  A.  Church  remained  with 
,  them,  expecting  the  return  of  the  teams,  but  before  they  got 
back,  the  rebels  came  in  sight,  and  the  command  was  given 
to  set  fire  to  them.  For  awhile  there  was  a  great  deal  of  feel 
ing  among  those  who  lost  property,  that  the  fire  was  kindled 
without  proper  authority ;  but,  something  more  than  a  month 
after,  one  of  the  commissary  officers  was  sick  at  Maryland 
Heights,  and  in  conversation  with  Dr.  Gale,  remarked  that  he 
had  the  original  order  in  his  possession,  and  gave  the  Doctor 
the  following  copy,  certifying  to  its  correctness : 

SEVEN  O'CLOCK,  Sept.  1,  1862. 

CAPT.  PIPER  :  Destroy  all  the  public  property  by  fire,  and 
withdraw  the  troops  at  once. 

By"  order  of  General  Pope. 

N.  P.  BANKS, 
M.  G.  C. 

Jhis  order  was  afterwards  of  invaluable  service  to  us,  as 
all  the  officers'  papers  and  books  being  thus  destroyed,  we  had 
no  data  for  settlement  with  the  Government,  for  medical  sup 
plies,  men's  clothing,  etc.,  and  this  squared  all  the  books  and 
balanced  the  accounts.  For  personal  losses  there  has  be'en, 
as  yet,  no  redress.  That  was  simply  our  misfortune.  I  flat 
tered  myself  on  exemption  from  loss  this  time,  but  soon 
learned  that  I,  too,  was  among  the  unlucky.  Thinking  it 
possible  that  our  baggage  train  might  be  cut  off,  I  had  opened 
my  trunk  at  Bealton,  and  taking  out  a  change  of  clothing  and 
some  valuable  papers,  had  put  them  in  a  valise  belonging  to 
Dr.  Chambers,  which  he  intended  should  be  carried  in  the 
ambulance ;  but  not  long  after,  it  became  necessary  to  lighten 


THE    RETREAT    THROUGH    VIRGINIA.  169 

that  vehicle,  and  the  valise  was  put  on  board  the  hospital 
wagon.  I  saved  my  trunk,  but  lost  the  valuables ! 

We  made  a  halt  just  beyond  Manassas,  on  the  Centreville 
road,  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  north  of  Broad  Run.  As 
it  grew  towards  dark,  Colonel  Goodrich  went  out  with  some 
of  the  General's  Staff  to  select  posts  for  picket  duty  through 
the  night.  I  intended  to  go  with  the  regiment  on  his  re 
turn,  but,  being  very  tired,  laid  down  and  fell  asleep,  and  slept 
so  soundly  that  I  did  not  know  when  the  men  went  away ; 
and,  on  waking,  at  about  midnight,  concluded  I  had  better 
remain  where  I  was,  and  did  so,  till  they  returned  the  next 
morning. 

At  noon  we  marched  again,  and  just  at  dark  were  pushing  on 
in  good  order  near  Chantilly,  between  Centreville  and  Fairfax, 
when  a  sudden  attack  was  made  on  Gen.  Kearney's  force,  in  ad 
vance  of  us.  We  immediately  formed  for  action,  but  a  severe 
thunder  storm  coming  on,  the  firing  soon  ceased.  It  was 
in  this  conflict  that  Gen.  Kearney  lost  his  life.  After  remain 
ing  in  line  in  the  road  for  two  or  more  hours,  we  were  marched 
down  the  road  about  half  a  mile,  into  the  edge  of  a  piece  of 
woods,  where,  not  allowed  any  fires,  we  laid  down  to  sleep  in 
our  dripping  clothes.  It  was  a  severe  night,  but  I  heard  no 
one  complain. 

The  following  morning  was  clear  and  beautiful,  and  before 
the  order  came  to  push  on,  we  had  time  to  get  dry  and  com 
fortable.  At  noon  we  marched  again,  and  made  no  halt  of 
any  moment  till  two  o'clock  on  Thursday  morning,  when  we 
stopped  near  Arlington  Heights.  It  was  a  long,  cold,  tedious 
tramp,  attended  with  many  vexations,  and  niuch  suffering. 
The  men  were  all  shivering  with  the  cold  when  we  halted, 
but,  too  much  exhausted  to  hunt  up  fuel,  they  threw  them 
selves  on  the  ground,  where  sleep  soon  overcame  hunger  and 
cold. 

At  eight  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  3d,  we  took  up  our 
arms,  and  started  on.  It  was  said  that  our  destination  was  Fort 
15 


170  THE   RETREAT   THROUGH    VIRGINIA. 

Albany,  at  the  end  of  Long  Bridge,  on  the  Virginia  side  of 
the  Potomac.  On  the  way  Adjutant  Gale  received  notice  of 
his  appointment  as  Assistant  Adjutant-General  to  Gen.  Slough, 
then  Military  Governor  of  Alexandria,  and  was  ordered  to 
report  immediately.  He  at  once  left  us,  greatly  to  his  advan 
tage,  but  very  much  to  our  regret.  He  had  been  a  faithful 
officer,  and  a  most  genial  companion. 

Early  in  the  afternoon,  we  made  a  halt  about  four  miles 
south  of  the  Long  Bridge,  and  remained  there  till  morning. 
Standing  very  close  to  Col.  Goodrich,  in  confidential  conversa 
tion,  some  one  carelessly  discharged  his  rifle,  and  the  ball 
passed  between  my  face  and  the  Colonel's,  ruffling  his  beard, 
and  removing  a  small  piece  of  skin  from  one  of  my  ears.  The 
sensations  were  very  uncomfortable,  but  gratitude  was  most 
sincerely  expressed  that  the  results  were  so  slight. 

Lieut.  M.  F.  Spencer,  whose  resignation  had  been  accepted 
in  June,  was  re-commissioned  by  the  Governor,  on  the  15th 
of  August,  and  had,  shortly  after,  rejoined  us,  but  Col.  Good 
rich  refused  to  assign  him  to  duty.  At  this  halt,  having  been 
informed  that  the  men  were  very  much  averse  to  his  being  put 
over  them,  he  resigned  again.  On  the  10th  the  resignation  was 
accepted ;  and  Orderly  Sergeant  .Michael  Nolan,  a  young 
man  of  marked  military  ability,  was  subsequently  promoted 
to  fill  the  vacancy,  with  rank  from  the  date  of  Spencer's  dis 
charge. 

On  marching  again,  two  days'  rations  were  put  in  the  haver 
sacks,  which" at  once  dissipated  the  "prospect  of  our  stopping 
at  the  fort.  Crossing  the  Potomac  at  the  Aqueduct  Bridge 
we  passed  through  Georgetown  to  Tenallytown.  Here  we 
halted  on  Thursday  evening,  Sept.  4th.  Here,  later  in  the 
evening,  our  headquarters'  wagon  caine  up,  and  for  the  first 
time  since  Aug.  21st  we  were  able  to  get  a  change  of  cloth 
ing.  Here,  too,  after  being  deprived  of  it  for  three  weeks, 
we  got  a  mail,  and  were  able  also  to  send  letters  home.  Maj. 
James,  who  had  obtained  permission  to  go  to  Washington  in 


THE   RETREAT   THROUGH   VIRGINIA.  171 

the  morning,  came  back  in  the  evening  for  his  baggage,  hav 
ing  found  waiting  him  at  the  Capitol,  a  commission  as  Lieut.- 
Col.  of  the  106th  N.  Y.  S.  Vols.  No  one  was  more  popular 
with  the  men  than  he.  The  attachment  sprung  from  a  feel 
ing  deeper  than  mere  respect,  and  a  general  regret  was  felt 
and  expressed  at  his  departure.  Jealousy,  which  had  at  times 
displayed  itself  against  him  in  pettishness  and  incivility,  en 
deared  him  to  the  entire  command,  and  led  to  open  and  un 
stinted  praise  of  his  ability  and  worth.  His  subsequent  pro 
motion  to  the  colonelcy  of  the  106th,  was  a  source  of  joy  to  us. 

Capt.  Abel  Godard  subsequently  became  Major;  1st.  Lieut. 
A.  B.  Shipman  was  promoted  to  the  Captaincy;  2d  Lieut.  E. 
A.  Rich  to  1st.  Lieutenancy,  and  Orderly  Sergeant  J.  E. 
Kelsey  to  2d  Lieutenancy,  all  with  rank  from  Sept.  16th. 

The  next  morning  we  obtained  a  very  large  mail.  Much 
the  greater  part  of  it  was  for  our  sick  and  absent  ones,  and 
what  to  do  with  it  we  did  not  know.  Col.  Goodrich  suggested 
that  I  take  it  to  Washington,  and,  if  possible,  find  the  men 
out.  Gen.  Greene  gave  his  consent,  and  telling  me  to  stay  as 
long  as  was  necessary  to  accomplish  the  object,  I  started  for 
the  city. 


172  THE    MARYLAND    CAMPAIGN. 


XL 

THE  MARYLAND  CAMPAIGN. 

I  REMAINED  in  Washington  five  days,  visiting  all  the  hospi 
tals,  delivering  what  letters  I  could,  and  writing  to  various 
localities  for  information  concerning  the  absent.  During  this 
time  the  fever  got  hold  of  me,  and  after  seeking  in  vain  for 
the  proper  authority  to  give  me  permission  to  lay  by  for  treat 
ment,  being  sent  from  one  official  to  another,  till  I  could  en 
dure  it  no  longer,  I  took  the  responsibility  on  myself  to  go  to 
Baltimore,  where  I  remained  under  medical  treatment  till  the 
15th,  when  I  again  started  to  rejoin  the  regiment. 

At  Washington  I  met  Commissary-Sergeant  Robertson,  who 
considered  himself  sufficiently  recovered  to  return  to  duty, 
who  informed  me  that  he  had  just  been  told  that  the  regi 
ment  was  at  or  near  Harper's  Ferry.  As  he  had  no  transpor 
tation  of  his  own,  he  was  going  to  try  to  reach  that  point  by 
the- cars.  My  horse  was  at  Georgetown,  and  from  there  I 
rode  him  22  miles  that  afternoon,  to  Seneca  Mills,  Md.,  and 
stayed  over  night  with  a  fine  old  gentleman,  the  miller  there. 

Started  on  the  next  morning  for  Harper's  Ferry,  but  was 
warned,  on  striking  the  canal  at  the  Monocacy,  that  it  would 
be  dangerous  to  go  further  in  that  direction.  The  passage  of 
a  rifle-ball  a  few  feet  in  advance  was  accepted  as  good  proof 
that  the  warning  was  not  without  reason,  and  I  turned  into 
the  fields  till  I  could  strike  the  road  to  Frederick.  From  my 
starting  point  in  the  morning,  Frederick  City  was  only  about 


THE  MARYLAND  CAMPAIGN.  ITS 

28  miles ;  but,  in  the  round-about  way  of  my  getting  to  it,  I 
rode  48  miles.  It  was  five  in  the  afternoon  when  I  arrived 
in  the  city.  The  9000  men  paroled  by  the  rebels  at  Harper's 
Ferry,  were  just  passing  through.  Hotels  and  private  houses 
were  crowded  with  people,  and  the  best  I  could  do,  by  way 
of  lodging,  was  to  obtain  the  privilege  of  sleeping  in  the  loft 
'  of  the  stable  attached  to  the  Dill  House. 

Securing  an  early  breakfast,  on  the  morning  of  the  17th,  I 
put  on  with  all  speed  to  find  the  regiment,  having  learned 
that  the  night  before  it  was  at  Sharpsburg,  distant  16  miles. 
Passing  through  Middletown,  I  overtook  a  long  train  of  sup 
ply-wagons,  and,  among  them,  those  belonging  to  our  Brigade. 
George  L.  Cook,  of  Company  "  A,"  was  with  the  teams,  and 
said  they  were  ordered  to  report  at  Keedysville,  and  there  I 
would  probably  find  the  regiment. 

Near  Boonsboro',  I  crossed  the  South  Mountain  battle-field. 
About  400  rebel  dead  lay  there  unburied.  But  for  their  hair 
they  would  have  been  taken  for  negroes,  so  badly  were  they 
discolored,  and  their  features  swollen  out  of  all  natural  shape. 

Continuous  cannonading  gave  assurance  that  the  work  of 
death  was  again  going  on,  at  no  great  distance.  Giving  my 
horse  the  rein,  I  hurried  forward,  and  soon  met  the  wounded 
coming  from  the  field.  Turning  down  a  lane,  which,  judging 
from  the  ambulances  on  it,  would  lead  to  the  scene  of  action, 
I  came,  before  long,  to  a  large  body- of  infantry,  massed  as 
reserves,  and,  a  little  beyond,  to  the  reserve  artillery,  parked 
in  great  numbers.  It  was  now  10  o'clock,  and  I  was  near  the 
centre  of  our  line.  Inquiring  of  several  staff  officers  where  I 
should  be  likely  to  find  General  Greene's  Division,  I  received 
contradictory  replies,  and  hardly  knew  which  way  to  turn  in 
my  search.  Some  thought  it  was  on  the  left  •  others  that  it 
was  just  beyond,  in  the  centre ;  others  that  it  was  with  the 
reserves ;  while  others,  still,  were  confident  that  it  was  on  the 
right. 

I  concluded  to  make  my  first  search  at  the  left ;  but,  after 


174  THE    MARYLAND    CAMPAIGN. 


j 


going  about  two  miles,  was  positively  informed  that  it  was  not 
there.  I  knew  that  it  was  not  with  the  reserves,  for  I  had 
recognized  several  of  the  wounded.  I  therefore  concluded  to 
try  the  right.  After  getting  almost  to  the  extreme  right,  I 
discovered  one  of  our  men,  and  learned  that  the  regiment  was 
not  far  off,  though  where  he  did  not  exactly  know,  as  they 
had  broken,  at  the  order  to  fall  back,  some  two  hours  before, 
and  he  had  not  seen  them  since,  but  thought  they  could  not  be 
far  off.  After  going  to  the  place  where  I  was  told  Colonel 
Goodrich  had  fallen,  and  rendering  some  assistance  in  get 
ting  some  wounded  rebels  cared  for,  I  started  again  on  the 
search.  Accidentally  coming  upon  General  Greene,  who, 
having  nothing  to  do  just  then,  was  resting  under  an  apple 
tree,  I  learned  from  him  that  our  Brigade  had  been  taken 
away  from  him  to  be  used  at  some  other  point,  early  in  the 
morning,  but  that  he  had  sent  an  aid  to  hunt  it  up,  and  have 
it  report  there.  I  concluded  to  wait  their  coming. 

Shortly  after,  it.  was  reported  that  General  McClellan  and 
Staff  were  passing  down  the  line.  I  remounted  and  rode  to 
the  extreme  right  with  them.  While  riding  through  a  barn 
yard,  where  temporary  relief  was  being  afforded  to  the 
wounded,  a  poor  fellow  whose  leg,  shattered  by  a  cannon  ball, 
had  not  yet  been  amputated,  raised  himself  on  one  foot,  and 
taking  off  his  cap,  exclaimed  with  energy  and  feeling :  "God 
bless  you,  MacT  Go  in  and  win!"  Passing  into  a  piece  of 
woods,  where  a  large  body  of  infantry  was  resting,  their  hearty 
cheers  announced  to  the  rebels  that  the  General  was  near, 
and  immediately  they  brought  their  batteries  to  bear  upon  us, 
and,  for  five  minutes,  sent  their  shot  and  shell  much  nearer 
than  was  agreeable.  My  horse  received  a  slight  flesh  wound, 
but  no  person  was  hurt.  By  this  time,  some  eight  or  ten 
of  our  batteries  having  got  the  range,  opened  with  fearful 
rapidity,  and  in  less  than  a  minute,  the  rebels  were  driven 
from  their  guns. 

On  my  return  to  General   Greene,  the  regiment  was  just 


THE   MARYLAND   CAMPAIGN.  175 

coming  up.  The  Brigade  was  immediately  formed  and 
marched  to  the  front,  where  it  took  position  for  the  night. 

In  the  morning  I  was  able  to  make  up  the  following  list  of 
casualties : 

KILLED. — Col.  Wm.  B.  Goodrich,  shot  by  a  rifle  ball  in 
the  right  breast ;  David  V.  Robinson,  Corporal  of  Co.  «  D," 
shot  by  a  rifle  ball  in  the  left  breast ;  Frederick  Hoxie,  Ser 
geant  of  Co.  "  I,"  shot  through  the  left  side  by  a  rifle  ball. 

WOUNDED. — Co.  "  A."  Corporal  L.  Buck,  rifle  shot  through 
the  fleshy  part  of  both  thighs,  severe,  but  not  dangerous  ;  D. 
A.  McDonald,  slight  wound  in  left  leg  below  the  knee. 

Co.  "  C."  Sergt,  Geo.  Clink,  wounded  in  the  breast  by  kick 
of  a  horse ;  Corp.  Lewis  Thomas,  severely  wounded  in  right 
breast  by  the  same  ball  which  killed  Sergt.  Hoxie ;  Gersham 
Severance,  severely  wounded,  a  ball  passing  through  the  body ; 
John  Sibbitts,  severely  wounded  in  the  abdomen  ;  John  Hob- 
inson,  shot  through  the  right  hand. 

Co.  "  E."  Wm.  Blake,  shot  in  the  breast,  is  reported  deafl, 
but  not  officially  reported,  and  it  may  be  only  a  rumor ;  J. 
Annett,  nature  of  wound  unknown. 

Co.  "  G."  John  Carey,  wounded  slightly  in  the  leg ;  Alex. 
Curry,  wounded  by  a  rifle  in  left  arm  ;  arm  since  amputated. 

Co.  "  H."  Wm.  Bruce,  severe  rifle  wound  in  the  left  breast; 
E.  Dukett,  wounded  in  the  thigh;  Benj.  Preno,  shell  wound 
in  the  thigh ;  James  Megin,  slight  wound  in  the  leg. 

Co.  "I."  F.  S.  Gray,  wounded  in  the  leg;  Joseph  King, 
wounded  in  the  leg ;  James  Poquett,  shot  through  the  groin, 
also  in  the  hand. 

Co.  "  K."  Hugh  Currier^  wounded  in  the  hand. 

MISSING.  Nine.  ». 

I  do  not  remember  that  Blake,  of  Co. '"  E."  was  ever  heard 
from.  He  probably  died'on  the  field.  Corp.  Thomas  died  on 
the  20th.  Severance  died  on  the  22d. 

The  casualties  in  the  Brigade  were  as  follows : 


176  THE   MARYLAND    CAMPAIGN. 

Killed.        Wounded.  Missing. 

60th  N.  Y 3  19  9 

78th  N.  Y 8  19  7 

3d  Delaware../. 6  11  8 

Purnell  Legion 3  23  9 

Total 20  72  33 

Our  missing  men  all  got  back  j  as  I  believe  did  most,  if 
not  all,  the  others. 

Some  days  after,  Lieut. -Col.  Brundage  made  two  reports, 
one  for  the  regiment  and  one  for  the  brigade.  I  have  lost 
my  copy  of  the  former,  but  give  the  latter. 

HEADQUARTERS  3d  BRIGADE,  LOUDON  HEIGHTS,  VA., 

Sept.  25th,  1862. 
To  BRIG.-GEN.  GEORGE  S.  GREENE, 

Commanding  2d  Division  llth  Army  Corps : 

I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  on  the  morning  of  Sept.  17th, 
1862,  Col.  Wm.  B.  Goodrich  being  in  command  of  this  Brigade, 
wjis  ordered  to  take  the  Brigade,  then  composed  of  the  60th  and 
78th  N.  Y.  S.  V.,  3d  Delaware  and  Purnell  Legion,  into  the  field 
on  the  right  of  the  line  of  battle.  Before  getting  into  position 
the  Purnell  Legion  was  ordered  to  some  other  position  on  the 
field,  which  reduced  the  line  of  this  Brigade  to  the  three  first 
named  regiments.  On^  getting  into  position  skirmishers  were 
thrown  out  on  the  right  and  left,  who  cleared  the  woods  of  the 
enemy's  sharpshooters.  While  thus  engaged,  and  about  an  hour 
after  the  commencement,  the-  Colonel  commanding  was  mortally 
wounded  and  borne  from  the  field.  The  command  then  devolved 
on  Lieut.-Col.  Austin,  of  the  78th  N.  Y.,  who  remained  in  com 
mand  during  the  day.  About  an  hour  and  a  half  from  this  time 
orders  were  received  to  withdraw  the  Brigade  from  the  field. 
This  was  done,  and  the  line  shortly  after  re-formed  about  half  a 
mile  t5  the  rear  of  its  former  position.  The  Brigade  remained 
in -this  line  till  near  dark,  when  they  were  ordered  by  yourself 
to  rejoin  the  Division. 

This  report  is  made  from  recollection  only,  no  data  being  kept, 
as  the  command  was  not  handed  over  to  me  till  late  in  the  even 
ing.  I  deem  it  just,  however,  to  make  honorable  mention  of  the 


THE  MARYLAND  CAMPAIGN.  177 

coolness  and  bravery  of  the  officers  and  men  in  action,  especially 
of  the  true  soldierly  bearing  of  Col.  Goodrich,  the  daring  and 
courage  of  Lieut.-Col.  Austin,  and  the  valuable  services  of  Capt. 
Redington  of  the  60th  N.  Y.,  and  1st  Lieut.  McGreggor  of  the 
78th  N.  Y.,  the  two  latter  having  charge  of  the  skirmishers. 
Respectfully  submitted, 

CHARLES  R.  BRUNDAGE, 

Lieut.-Col.  Commanding  3d  Brigade.    ,( 

Lester  Willson,  who  had  not  yet  received  his  commission  as 
Lieutenant,  had  been  acting  for  some  time  as  Sergeant-Major, 
and,  by  permission  of  Gen.  Greene,  had  gone  North  with  the 
body  of  Col.  Goodrich.  The  Band  had  gone  to  "Washington 
for  their  discharge,  and  several  officers  had  been  sent  home 
on  sick  leave,  some  days  before  the  battle.  Our  whole  force 
in  the  fight  on  the  17th  was  226.  Of  this  number  the  skir 
mishers  only — about  one-fifth  of  the  whole  command — were 
really  engaged  in  the  fight,  the  remainder  of  the  command 
being  compelled  to  lie  down  on  the  ground.  As  the  enemy's 
fire  was  very  heavy,  the  position  was  more  trying  than  if  the 
boys  had  been  allowed  to  stand  up  and  return  it;  but  they 
bore  it  nobly,  and  did  not  leave  the  field  till  two  regiments  in 
front  of  them  had  broken  through  their  line,  and  to  stay 
longer  was  useless. 

On  the  18th,  I  visited  several  of  the  hospitals.  Many  were 
in  great  pain,  so  severe  were  their  injuries;  but  nearly  all 
were  calm  and  patient.  One  wounded  rebel  inquired  of  Lt.- 
Col.  Brundage,  "  What  regiment  do  you  belong  to  ?" 

"  The  Sixtieth  New  York." 

"  Damn  your  Enfield  Rifles  !  See  there,"  pointing  to  a 
frightful  wound  in  his  arm. 

Poor  fellow  !  not  he  alone  bore  witness  to  the  awful  power 
of  the  Enfield.  No  other  rifle  ball  makes  so  ugly  a  wound. 
I  speak  this  from  personal  observation,  having  on  that  and 
the  following  day  looked  on  2,000  of  our  own  men  dead  on 
the  field,  and  upwards  of  5,000  dead  rebels,  and  noted  the 


178  THE    MARYLAND   CAMPAIGN. 

effect  of  the  different  kinds  of  ammunition.  The  accuracy 
of  the  Enfield  was  also  tested  by  the  fact  that  of  seventy 
dead  rebels  who  lay  in  front  of  our  position,  more  than  sixty 
were  shot  through  the  head.  Our  men  aimed  for  the  head, 
not  from  choice,  but  from  necessity,  as  the  rebels  on  being 
driven  from  the  woods  scattered  in  an  adjoining  cornfield,  and 
their  heads  alone  were  visible. 

I  noticed  one  rebel  with  five  shots  through  his  head.  He 
was  kneeling  on  one  knee,  his  gun  lying  on  his  left  hand,  as 
though  he  had  just  been  in  the  act  of  taking  aim.  When  I 
saw  him  he  had  probably  boen  dead  some  twelve  hours,  but 
other  dead  lay  so  against  him  that  he  had  not  fallen  from  the 
position  he  was  in  when  shot.  Others  were  in  a  sitting  pos 
ture  ;  some  were  lying  on  their  side,  as  if  asleep ;  some  were 
lying  on  their  backs,  with  arms  outstretched,  and  fingers 
spread,  as  if  they  were  clutching  or  keeping  off  a  foe.  Where 
the  artillery  had  swept  them  with  grape  and  canister,  their  line 
of  battle  could  be  traced  by  the  dead  bodies  that  lay  on  it — 
sometimes  as  far  as  the  eye  could  see.  Permission  had  been 
given  the  rebels  to  bury  their  dead ;  but,  under  a  flag  of  truce 
for  that  purpose,  they  had  sent  out  their  pickets  to  hide  their 
movements,  and  had  fled,  leaving  their  dead  at  our  disposal. 
We  buried  them  in  trenches,  near  where  they  fell. 

The  prisoners  that  were  brought  in  were  an  average,  proba 
bly  of  their  troops,  and,  for  the  most  part,  were  men  of  good 
age  and  size.  In  personal  appearance  they  would  compare 
favorably  with  any  army.  A  few  appeared  to  be  too  young 
for  the  service,  and  some  said  they  were  but  sixteen  years  old  ; 
but  the  great  majority  of  them  were  in  appearance  from  thirty 
to  forty-five. 

Having  prepared  a  biographical  sketch  of  Colonel  Goodrich, 
for  publication  in  another  form,  it  may  not  be  amiss  for  me  to 
give  a  synopsis  of  it  here. 

William  Bingham  Goodrich  was  the  oldest  son  of  Hubbard 
Goodrich,  M.  D.,  and  was  born  in  Wilna,  Jefferson  County, 


THE  MARYLAND  CAMPAIGN.  179 

New  York,  December  1st,  1821.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he 
lost  his  father,  and,  being  thrown  on  his  own  resources  for  the 
support  of  himself  and  the  large  family  of  his  mother,  de 
veloped  that  strong  self-reliance  which  was  so  prominently 
marked  as  to  be  observed  by  all  who  came  in  contact  with  him 
in  after  life. 

By  great  industry  and  sacrifice,  performing  menial  offices  in 
the  seminary  as  a  compensation  for  his  tuition,  boarding  him 
self  while  at  school,  and  teaching  and  studying  alternately,  he 
obtained  his  education.  For  three  or  four  years  he  engaged 
in  mercantile  pursuits,  at  first  iff  Wisconsin,  and  afterwards  in 
Missouri,  where,  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  with  Mexico, 
he  volunteered  in  the  Missouri  Battalion  of  Infantry,  under 
command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Easton,  and  went  to  the  seat 
of  war  as  Acting  Adjutant  of  Recruits. 

Remaining  in  the  army  till  peace  was  declared,  he  went  the 
overland  route  from  Santa  Fe  to  California,  with  Government 
despatches.  The  discovery  of  gold  about  this  time  had  drawn 
many  to  California,  and  Mr.  Goodrich  remained  there  a  little 
more  than  a  year,  trading  in  the  mountains.  Having  obtained 
a  competency,  he  returned  tp  New  York,  and  entered  the  Law 
School,  at  Ballston  Spa.  Concluding  his  studies,  he  went,  at 
the  urgent  request  of  his  sister,  who  was  residing  there,  to 
Madrid,  St.  Lawrence  County,  New  York,  and  commenced 
the  practice  of  law. 

For  nine  years  from  June,  1850,  he  held  a  commission  as 
Judge  Advocate  of  the  83d  New  York  S.  M.,  with  rank  of 
Major. 

In  January,  1851,  he  was  married  to  Lydia  Elvira  Hildreth, 
daughter  of  Thaddeus  Hildreth,  Esq.,  of  Herkimer  County, 
New  York.  One  child,  a  daughter,  was  born  to  them.  Re 
moving  to  Canton,  in  the  spring  of  1853,  he  remained  there 
till  the  organization  of  his  Company,  in  1861. 

In  the  fall  of  1855  he  was  regularly  admitted  to  the  bar. 


180  THE    MARYLAND    CAMPAIGN. 

As  an  aid  to  the  Republican  party  in  its  first  campaign,  he 
started  a  political  newspaper,  issuing  the  first  number  of  "  The 
St.  Lawrence  Plain  Dealer,"  Aug.  7, 1856,  which  he  continued 
to  publish,  part  of  the  time  alone,  and  a  part  in  company  with 
S.  P.  Remington,  now  Major  in  the  U.  S.  Cavalry,  till  the 
fall  of  1858,  when  Remington  took  entire  control. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  Mr.  Goodrich  took  an 
active  part  in  the  efforts  made  to  obtain  volunteers,  and  in  an 
oration  given  at  Fine,  New  York,  on  the  Fourth  of  July,  1861, 
he  urged  the  citizens  to  regard  it  as  their  highest  privilege  to 
arm  in  defence  of  the  Government.  His  own  action  in  the 
matter  has  been  given  in  preceding  pages. 

Colonel  Goodrich  anticipated  a  fight,  and  seems  to  have  had 
a  presentiment  of  his  fate,  the  day  before  the  battle  of  An  tie- 
tarn.  While  marching  the  regiment  up  to  join  other  troops  in 
advance,  on  the  morning  of  the  16th,  he  remarked  to  Acting 
Sergeant-Major  Willson,  who  was  riding  by  his  side,  that  in 
the  event  of  a  fight  it  was  possible  he  might  be  killed,  and, 
writing  down  the  address  of  his  wife,  gave  it  to  Willson,  with 
the  request  that  he  should  telegraph  her  in  the  event  of  his 
falling,  and  that,  unless  his  remains  should  be  so  badly  muti 
lated  as  not  to  be  recognized,  they  might  be  sent  to  his 
family. 

At  daylight,  on  the  17th,  the  troops  were  awakened  by  a 
brisk  firing  of  musketry;  and  receiving  immediate  orders  to 
fall  in,  were  soon  in  the  midst  of  the  fight,  near  the  extreme 
right  of  the  Union  line,  where  through  the  entire  day  the  re 
sults  of  the  engagement  were  more  varied  than  on  any  other 
portion  of  the  field.  The  rebels  had  possession  of  a  corn 
field,  and  were  fighting  desperately  t.o  obtain  a  piece  of  woods. 
Into  this  woods  Colonel  Goodrich  led  the  Brigade,  and,  de 
ploying  a  portion  of  his  men  as  skirmishers,  held  the  enemy 
in  check. 

He  was  firm,  cool,  and  determined,  and  encouraged  his  men 


v^  THE  MARYLAND  CAMPAIGN.  181 

to  do  their  best.  In  a  short  time  he  was  seen  V>  fall.  Will- 
son  went  immediately  to  him,  and  assisted  in  raising  him  from 
the  ground.  Recovering  from  the  first  sensation  of  faintness, 
he  exclaimed,  "  My  God,  I  am  hit !"  and  sank  away  uncon 
scious.  A  rifle  ball,  probably  sent  by  some  sharpshooter  who 
had  been  on  the  watch  for  him,  and,  from  the  direction  the 
ball  took,  had  perhaps  fired  on  him  from  a  tree-top,  entered 
his  right  breast,  and,  passing  down  behind  the  stomach, 
severed  an  artery  near  the  intestines. 

He  was  taken  to  a  barn  at  the  rear  of  the  field,  where  he 
soon  revived.  Seeing  Willson  near  him,  he  smiled,  and 
seemed  greatly  comforted.  As  strength  would,  from  time  to 
time,  permit,  he  spoke  of  his  family  in  most  endearing  terms, 
calling  them  by  name,  and  desiring  Willson  to  take  his  remains 
to  them.  Earnest  inquiries  were  made  for  the  boys  in  the 
field,  and  great  anxiety  was  manifest  that  they  should  do  their 
duty.  Exclaiming,  "  I  have  always  tried  to  do  my  duty !" 
he  gently,  and  without  pain,  passed  from  life. 

In  religious  sentiment,  Colonel  Goodrich  was  a  Universalist, 
and  the  consolations  of  that  faith  were  tendered  to  those — an 
immense  throng— who  followed  his  remains  to  their  resting- 
place,  beside  the  cottage  where  his  best  beloved  dwell.  Adorn 
ing  his  grave  with  beautiful  flowers,  and  cherishing  his 
memory  in  loving  hearts,  his  wife  and  child  think  of  what  he 
was,  in  what  a  glorious  .cause  he  fell,  and  find  comfort  in  the 
assurance  of  the  future  and  immortal  life. 

"  His  was  the  generous  heart  to  thee  unclosed; 

His  was  the  arm  whereon  thy  trust  reposed ; 

His  was  the  simple  faith,  the  will  complete, 

The  soldier  daring,  never  taught  retreat : 

That  only  saw,  wherever  danger  led, 

The  star  of  Duty  shining  overhead  ; 

Followed  that  sta*r  through  battle's  fiery  breath, 

And  hailed  it  shining  on  the  front  of  Death !" 
16 


182  THE   MARYLAND   CAMPAIGN.  * 

It  is  the.-faie  of  nearly  every  commanding  officer,  in  the 
volunteer  service,  to  be  alternately  liked  and  disliked  by  his 
men.  Colonel  Goodrich  did  not  escape  from  this  experience ; 
but,  at  his  death,  and  for  some  time  previous,  the  regiment 
was  very  much  attached  to  him,  and  he  lives  in  their  memo 
ry,  and  will  always,  with  affectionate  regard.  Peace  to  his 
ashes ! 


RETURN    TO    VIRGINIA.  188 


XII. 
RETURN  TO  VIRGINIA.. 

EARLY  on  the  morning  of  the  19th  September,  we  were 
ordered  to  march.  Passing  over  a  large  portion  of  the  battle 
field  of  the  17th,  we  made  slow  progress  till  we  reached 
Sharpsburg,  at  dark,  when  we  put  on  faster,  and  marched  till 
1  o'clock,  A.  M-,  towards  Maryland  Heights,  when  we  halted 
and  slept  till  sunrise.  After  breakfast,  we  started  to  ascend 
the  Heights.  The  road  soon  became  only  a  path,  and  so  steep 
was  the  ascent  that  we  were  compelled  to  make  frequent  halts. 
On  reaching  the  summit,  the  Signal.  Corps  telegraphed,  by 
flags,  to  know  what  should  be  done  with  us;  and,  while  the 
question  was  being  answered,  we  looked  about  the  place, 
noting,  by  the  marks  on  the  trees,  that  some  severe  fighting 
was  had  before  the  place  was  evacuated  at  the  surrender  of 
Harper's  Ferry  ]  and  also  enjoyed  the  magnificent  prospect  from 
the  highest  altitude  in  all  that  section  of  Virginia.  We  were 
1312  feet  above  the  water  level  of  the  Potomac,  which,  at  the 
point  where  it  rolled  below  us,  was  288  feet  above  tide-water, 
so  that  we  were  1600  feet  higher  than  the  sea,  and  some  of 
the  men,  by  climbing  the  trees,  got  30  or  more  feet  still  higher. 

After  staying  on  the  mountain  about-  two  hours,  we  were 
ordered  to  go  down  on  the  other  side,  and  at  dark  halted,  and 
went  into  camp  near  Sandy  Hook.  The  next  day  being  Sun 
day,  General  Greene-  ordered  the  Brigade  paraded  for  religious 
service,  which  wag  held  at  5  P.  M.,  and  was  very  generally 
attended  by  all  the  regiments. 

At  sunrise,  on  Tuesday,  we  left  camp  and  marched  up  to 


186  RETURN   TO   VIRGINIA. 

old  lady,  who  was  present,  said  she  had  often  noticed  that  when 
a  sick  child  was  christened,  it  made  an  almost  immediate  dif 
ference  to  it ;  it  either  got  well  or  else  died.  She  thought 
the  service  a  very  important  one  for  the  child,  and  hoped  for 
its  immediate  recovery.  A  very  good  hope,  but  rather  a 
variable  experience  on  which  to  base  it ! 

On  the  9th,  Capt.  Hyde  was  arraigned  before  a  Court-Mar 
tial  convened  at  the  Ferry,  on  a  charge  preferred  against  him 
by  one  of  Gen.  Sumner's  Aids.  I  went  down  as  his  counsel. 
My  first  experience  in  the  law.  The  case,  as  near  as  I  can 
remember,  run  thusf 

CHARGE  :  Positive  and  wilful  disobedience  of  orders  on 
the  field  of  battle. 

Specification:  In  this,  that  he,  Captain  William  H.  Hyde, 
60th  Regt.  N.  Y.  S.  V.  did  at  Antietam,  Sept.  17th,  1862, 
when  ordered  by  an  Aid  of  General  Sumner  to  take  his  com 
pany  to  the  Front,  positively  refuse  to  do  so,  saying  that  he 
was  not  in  command,  or  words  to  that  effect. 

Two  witnesses  were  examined  for  the  prosecution,  who 
swore  that  in  riding  up  to  the  60th  Regt.,  on  the  day  named, 
and  some  time  after  the  fighting  in  the  morning,  and  after  the 
Brigade  had  been  ordered  to  fall  back,  they  inquired  for  the 
Senior  Officer,  and  were  referred  to  Capt.  Hyde,  and  that  on 
ordering  him  to  march  the  regiment  to  join  the  Brigade,  he 
answered  that  Lt.-Col.  Brundage  was  in  command,  had  re 
ceived  the  order,  and  was  engaged  in  executing  it,  having  but 
just  stepped  aside  to  collect  some  stragglers,  ordering  the  reg 
iment  to  remain  where  it  was  till  he  came  back,  and  that 
not  being  left  in  command,  he,  Hyde,  refused  to  advance. 

I  introduced  witnesses  to  show  that  Lt.-Col.  Brundage  was 
in  command,  that  he  received  the  order  sworn  to,  and  that  lie 
obeyed  it,  and  on  rejoining  the  Brigade,  found  it  to  the  rear 
of  the  position  occupied  by  the  regiment  at  the  time  of  re 
ceiving  the  order. 

A  verdict  of  acquittal  was  asked  for  on   the   gtfmnd  that 


RETURN   TO    VIRGINIA.  187 

Capt.  Hyde  was  not  ordered  to  march  his  "  Company/7  as 
charged ;  that  he  was  not  ordered  to  "  march  to  the  front," 
as  charged ;  that  he  did  not  "  wilfully  disobey/'  as  charged ; 
but  by  awaiting  the  arrival  of  Lieut.-Col.  Brundage,  with  the 
stragglers,  the  order  really  given  was  most  speedily  obeyed, 
and  that  the  regiment  did  march  to  rejoin  the  Brigade,  which 
was  in  the  rear,  and  not  to  the  front. 

Some  time  transpired  before  we  learned  what  the  decision 
was,  as  no  member  of  a  court-martial  is  at  liberty  to  state 
what  its  verdict  is  till  the  proceedings  have  been  confirmed  or 
disapproved  by  the  General  who  orders  the  court,  and  his  de 
cision  is  published  to  the  troops;  but,  in  time,  Captain  Hyde 
was  honorably  acquitted,  and  ordered  to  return  to  duty. 

About  this  time,  Lieutenant  Willson  returned.  He  was 
commissioned  First  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant,  October  8th. 
Sixty  of  our  men  were  also  sent  us  from  the  Convalescent 
Camp,  at  Alexandria. 

Orderly-Sergeant  Langdon  Clark  was  promoted  to  Second 
Lieutenant,  in  Company  "  A,"  with  rank  from  October  8th. 

On  the  llth,  Quartermaster  Merritt,  who  had  been  away, 
by  order  of  General  Slocuni,  to  hunt  up  the  convalescents, 
returned  with  a  large  number.  Major  Godard  also  rejoined 
us ;  and  I  obtained  a  furlough  and  went  to  Baltimore,  at  the 
request  of  many  of  the  officers,  to  have  an  interview  with  Mr. 
Smith,  Master  of  Transportation  of.  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad,  with  reference  to  our  being  again  placed  on  duty  on 
that  road.  He  expressed  himself  as  being  anxious  for  our 
return,  and  advised  that  we  petition  to  be  removed  to  the 
Middle  Department,  which  he  had  no  doubt  would  be  granted, 
and,  if  ft  was,  he  would  then  get  us  placed  on  our  old  post. 

On  my  return  to  the  regiment,  I  learned  that  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Brundage  had  sent  a  protest  to  the  Governor  against 
the  promotion  of  Captain  Hyde  on  the  ground  that,  being 
under  arrest,  he  was  not  eligible  to  the  office ;  and  had  asked 
that  Major  Godard  be  made  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  Captain 


188  RETURN    TO    VIRGINIA. 

Hugh  Smith,  Major.  The  Lieutenant-Colonel  began  to  talk, 
strongly  of  resigning,  and  the  Major  was  obliged,  on  account 
of  continued  ill-health,  to  go  to  a  private  house  at  the  Ferry. 

On  the  21st,  in  company  with  Hospital  Steward  Cornish,  -I 
went  over  to  the  hospital  at  Smoketown,  on  Antietani  battle 
field,  to  visit  our  wounded  who  still  remained  there.  Found 
them  all  doing  well.  Traces  of  the  terrible  fight  were  in  a 
great  measure  obliterated.  Many  of  our  dead  had  been  dis 
interred,  and  removed  north  by  their  friends,  and  winter  grain 
was  already  springing  up  on  the  open  fields  where  the  slaugh 
ter  had  been  most  terrible,  and  where  the  rebel  dead  were 
buried  in  trenches  containing,  so  the  headboards  said;  some 
sixty,  some  one  hundred,  and  some  as  high  as  two  hundred 
bodies ! 

The  next  day  we  had  a  tedious  time  at  our  camp.  Some 
one  set  fire  to  the  fallen  timber,  and  it  spread  all  over  the 
mountain,  driving  us  from  our  camp,  and  nearly  blinding  and 
suffocating  us  with  smoke. 

About  this  time,  sickness  was  most  decidedly  on  the  in 
crease  with  us  again.  The  Doctor  had  about  one  hundred  on 
his  list,  chiefly  those  who  had  been  returned  from  the  hospitals. 

The  order  issued  from  the  War  Department,  allowing  Regu 
lar  Army  Officers  to  enlist  for  any  branch  of  their  service 
from  the  ranks  of  the  Volunteers,  influenced  about  twenty  of 
our  men  to  leave  us  and  join  the  Regulars.  It  was,  in  my 
opinion,  a  very  ungenerous  and  unjust  order,  for  every  com 
missioned  officer  in  the  Volunteer  service  had  been  to  more  or 
less  personal  expense  and  inconvenience  in  getting  up  their 
commands.  For  us,  the  order  came  at  a  very  unfortunate 
time,  for,  our  Field  Officers  having  been  sick  so  lohg,  many 
things  had  gone  at  loose  ends,  and  much  discontent  and  dis 
satisfaction  existed  in  the  ranks.  Those  who  left,  however, 
to  get  rid  of  a  temporary  inconvenience,  did  not,  I  fear,  better 
their  condition  any  way  by  the  transfer. 

At  10  o'clock,  on  the  night  of  the  24th,  word  came  that  we 


RETURN    TO   VIRGINIA.  189 

I 

must  immediately  provide  ourselves  with  two  days'  cooked 
rations,  and  be  in  readiness  to  march  at  a  moment's  notice. 
The  rations  were  prepared,  and  the  men  kept  under  arms  all 
the  next  day.  At  dark,  an  order  came  that  there  would  be 
no  movement  at  present,  but  that  preparations  must  be  made 
for  inspection  at  8  the  next  morning.  The  men,  having  been 
burnt  out  of  their  former  camp,  and  having  no  adequate  shel 
ter  for  the  nights,  which  were  then  very  cold  and  blustering, 
were  very  impatient  of  any  labor  that  took  them  from  flaeir 
work ;  and  when,  on  the  night  of  the  26th,  they  eame  back 
to  camp,  after  having  been  out  in  a  cold  rain  all  day,  and  des 
cribed  that  all  the  inspection  they  had  seen,  was  that  one  of 
General  McClellan's  Staff  had  looked  at  them  for  a  moment, 
took  no  notice  whatever  of  their  rifles,  and  only  opened  one  or 
two  cartridge  boxes,  no  one  could  -lilame  them  for  calling  the 
whole  thing  a  shameful  farce,  as  they  crawled  away  among  the 
rocks,  hunting  in  vain  for  a  dry  place,  where  they  might  get 
•through  the  night  without  suffering  from  the  wet  and  cold. 

On  the  24th,  Albert  Walrath,  of  Company  "  F,"  died  at 
Regimental  Hospital,  at  Harper's  Ferry,  of  typhus  fever.  He 
'was  buried  in  the  general  burying-ground  at  the  Ferry. 

A  few  days  after,  we  got  word  that  Lieutenant  H.  C.  Rey 
nolds  had  died,  at  Washington,  on  the  24th,  from  a  relapse, 
after  convalescence  from  the  fever.  Since  accompanying  the 
remains  of  Colonel  Miles  to  Baltimore,  after  the  surrender  bf 
Harper's  Ferry,  he  had  remained  there,  and  was  in  a  fair  way 
of  recovery,  till  summoned  to  Washington,  to  app*ear  before  the 
Board  then  investigating  the  circumstances  of  the  surrender. 
The  fatigue  of  going  to-  the  city,  and  the  excitement  while 
there,  was  too  much  for  him.  He  was  a  young  man  of  great 
amiability  of  disposition,  much  respected  and  beloved  by  all 
who  had  been  brought  in  contact  with  him. 

On  the  28th,  we  moved  from  the  Heights  to  Loudon  Valley, 
and  a  change  was  effected  in  our  Brigade  relations.  The  60th, 
140th,  and  145th  New  York,  3d  Delaware  and  Purnell 


190  RETURN    TO   VIRGINIA. 

Legion,  became  the  Second  Brigade  in  Second  Division  of  the 
Twelfth  Array  Corps.  General  A.  J.  Jackson  was  assigned 
to  our  Brigade.  He  was  a .  man  of  whose  antecedents  we. 
knew  nothing,  and  of  whose  subsequent  ability  I  am  not  aware 
that  anything  remarkable  has  been  discovered  yet. 

On  our  coming  into  the  Valley,  expectations  were  encour 
aged  of  our  going  into  winter  quarters  there ;  and  the  men 
went  to  work  again  with  a  will  to  lay  out  a  pleasant  camp,  and 
ereafc  log  huts.  Two  days  were  given  to  the  work,  and  great 
expectations  were  had  of  what  the  -third  day  would  accomplish, 
when  at  midnight,  on  the  30th,  orders  came  to  be  prepared 
to  march  at  6  the  next  morning. 

We  were  all  astir  at  5  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  at  6 
marched  out  into  the  road.  Our  destination  was  Bolivar 
Heights,  to  take  the  place  of  troops  that  were  to  be  sent  to  the 
front;  but,  owing  to  delay  in  their  vacating  their  camp,  we  did 
not  come  to  a  final  halt  till  about  dark,  when  we  took  position 
not  far  from  our  location  in  May. 

Dr.  Gale  arrived  at  the  Ferry  that  night,  having  been  home 
on  twenty  days'  leave  of  absence,  on  account  of  sickness. 
General  Greene  also  returned. 

The  next  morning  Lieutenant-Colonel  Brundage  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  he  could  not  recover  his  health  while  he  re 
mained  in  the  field,  and  sent  in  his  resignation.  General 
Greene  sent  me  a  copy  of  a  letter  he  had  written  to  Governor 
Morgan,  asking  that  I  be  commissioned  as  Colonel  of  the  Six 
tieth,  and  Major  Godard  joined  the  Staff  Officers  in  recom- 
commending  me,  and  petitioning  that  General  Greene's  re 
quest  be  granted. 

Subsequently  several  steps  were  taken  towards  that  end, 
and,  although  considerable  time  elapsed  before  they  were  all 
made,  I  may  as  well  mention  them  all  in  this  connection. 
The  Line  Officers,  with  but  three  exceptions,  petitioned  the 
Governor,  and  I  believe  that,  with  but  two  exceptions,  the 
'non-commissioned  officers  did  the  same.  Letters  in  my  behalf 


RETURN   TO  VIRGINIA.  191 

were  addressed  to  Governor  Morgan  by  Generals  Slough  and 
Busteed,  Dr.  S.  N.  Sherman,  Captain  K.  C.  Gale,  and  Lieute 
nant  E.  A.  Merritt,  of  the  army;  and  by  Hons.  A.  B.  James, 
Geo.  E.  Baker,  and  Benjamin  Squires.  I  also  had  a  personal 
interview  with  the  Governor,  having  accidentally  met  him  at 
Washington,  when  sent  there  on  business  for  the  Regiment 
by  Major-General  Slocum.  Several  friends  talked  with  him 
on  the  subject;  and  his  answer  to  them,  as  to  me,  was  in  sub 
stance,  that  he  doubted  the  propriety  of  promoting  a  chaplain 
to  such " a  position;  that  previous  promotions  of  a  kindred 
character  had  given  dissatisfaction,  and  he  did  not  feel  willing 
to  try  it  again.  Although  I  have  sometimes  felt  that  other 
reasons  influenced  the  Governor,  and  other  motives  swayed 
his  action  in  the  case,  I  have  no  disposition  to  charge  that  it 
was  so,  nor  to  complain  at  the  result.  I  may,  however,  say 
that,  in  my  opinion,  the  petitions  and  requests  above  named 
ought  to  have  made  the  Governor  willing  to  lay  aside  his  pre 
judice  against  me  because  I  was  a  chaplain,  especially  as  I 
avowed  to  him  my  willingness  .to  go  before  any  Board,  and  be 
examined  as  to  my  military  qualifications. 

AS  General  Greene's  letter  is  the  only  one  of  which  I  have 
any  copy,  I  insert  it  here  : 

i    HEADQUARTERS  THIRD  BRIGADE, 
SECOND  DIVISION,  TWELFTH  ARMY  CORPS, 

HARPER'S  FERRY,  Nov.  2,  1862. 
His  EXCELLENCY  ^ 

E.  D.  MORGAN, 

Governor  of  New  York. 
YOUR  EXCELLENCY  : 

The  death  of  Colonel  Goodrich  by  the  hands  of  the  insurgents, 
whilst  gallantly  leading  my  Brigade  into  action,  at  the  battle  of 
Antietam,  and  the  ill  health  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Brundage, 
which  I  understand  will  preclude  his  continuance  in  the  service, 
leaves  the  Regiment  with  but  one  field  officer. 

I  beg  leave  to  recommend  for  the  Colonel  of  the  Sixtieth  Regi- 


192  RETURN    TO    VIRGINIA. 

ment  N.  Y.  S.  Vols.,  Eichard  Eddy,  who  has  been  Chaplain  of 
the  Regiment  from  its  organization.  Mr.  Eddy  is  well  known  to 
me  since  I  have  been  connected  with  the  Sixtieth  Regiment.  By 
his  education,  intelligence,  industry,  and  devotion  to  the  service, 
I  believe  he  will  fully  justify  the  confidence  I  ask  you  to  repose 
in  him. 

After  my  return  to  duty  from  a  short  sick  leave,  I  regret  to 
find  that  the  Sixtieth  Regiment  has  been  transferred  from  my 
command. 

I  have  in  my  command  now  the  78th,  102d,  137ih,  and  149th 
N.  Y.  S.  Vols.,  and  two  regiments  from  Pennsylvania. 
Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

GEORGE  S.  GREENE, 
Commanding  Third  Brigade. 

On  the  evening  of  Sunday,  Nov.  2d,  the  Regiment  went 
down  to  Harper's  Ferry,  being  ordered  to  guard  Government 
stores  there  and  in  the  vicinity.  Four  Companies  went  down 
to  Knoxville,  Company  "I"  was  at  Sandy  Hook,  two  were  at  the 
Depot,  and  three  on  the  Island,  between  the  canal  which  for 
merly  supplied  motive  power  for  the  Government  work-shops, 
and  the  Shenandoah  river. 

On  the  3d  I  again  used  the  following : 

HARPER'S  FERRY,  Oct.  21, 1862. 
Pass  bearer  to  Smoketown  and  return. 

0.  HOWE, 

Provost  Marshal. 

% 

I  went,  however,  a  little  further  than  Antietam,  but  did  not, 
as  those  who  were  in  the  secret  knew  very  well,  consume  a 
great  deal  of  time.  It  was  a  secret  service,  supposed  at  the 
time  to  be  very  important ! 

On  the  6th  a  petition  was  started  for  Captain  Hyde's  pro 
motion  to  the  Colonelcy.  I  do  not  know  how  many  signatures 
were  obtained,  but  I  believe  it  was  never  forwarded  to 
Albany. 


RETURN  TO   VIRGINIA.  193 

On  the  7th,  we  had  quite  a  severe  snow  storm.  Many  of 
the  men  were  comfortably  housed ;  but  such  as  were  not,  had 
got  their  tents  up,  and  arrangements  for  heating  them,  so  that 
all  were,  on  the  whole,  in  very  good  quarters.  Major  Godard 
thought  he  felt  well  enough  to  leave  his  boarding  place,  and 
come  down  and  take  command,  which  the  Lieutenant-Colonel 
had  been  compelled  to  relinquish  on  account  of  ill-health,  and 
he  therefore  came  down  to  Headquarters  at  No.  27  Shenan- 
doah  Street,  a  house  with  two  rooms  on  the  floor,  where  we 
had  plenty  of  windows,  but  very  little  glass  in  them !  but  which 
was,  in  that  wet  and  muddy  time,  much  preferable  to  a  tent 
on  the  ground. 

The  Quartermaster's  brother-in-law,  Charles  Rich,  came 
down  from  his  home,  in  Illinois,  to  see  the  war  go  on,  and  we 
pressed  him  into  the  service  to  be  our  cook  and  caterer,  Wm. 
Moss,  Jr.,  having  been  discharged  before  we  left  Bolivar. 
Many  a  remarkably  tenacious  soup  did  he  get  up  for  us,  be 
sides  much  fun.  The  days  were  devoted  to  business,  the 
evenings  to  song  and  story-telling ;  special  remembrance  be 
ing  now  had  of  some  wonderful  "  flies"  and  "  boots  !" 

On  the  llth,  as  Colonel  Godard  may  remember,  information 
came  to  us  of  a  select  and  private  meeting  to  be  held  that 
afternoon  on  the  subject  of  officering  the  regiment.  The 
Lieutenant-Colonel  suddenly  appeared  in  their  midst  as  an 
uninvited  guest,  and  giving  them  some  wholesome  advice  on 
the  subject  of  secret  meetings,  ordered  them  to  their  posts. 

That  night  Henry  J.  Smith,  of  Company  "I,"  died  of 
typhus  fever,  at  Regimental  Hospital.  He  was  buried  at  the 
Ferry. 

The  next  evening,  an  open  meeting  was  held,  and  my 
friends,  from  motives  of  policy,  cast  their  votes  for  Major 
Godard,  for  the  Colonelcy;  Captain  Thomas,  for  Lieutenant. 
Colonel,  and  Captain  Smith,  for  Major.  After  that,  a  great 
deal  of  discontent  was  manifest,  arid  the  officers  drew  up  and 
forwarded  the  petition  in  my  behalf,  of  which  I  have  made 
17 


194  RETURN   TO   VIRGINIA. 

previous  mention.     The  Governor  certainly  could  not  have 
had  a  very  clear  notion  of  what  the  officers  really  did  want ! 

Our  Paymaster  wrote  that  the  clothing  accounts  of  the 
men  must  be  entered  on  the  rolls  before  we  could  be  paid 
again.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Brundage  went  to  General  Slocum 
in  regard  to  the  matter,  and  it  was  determined  that  I  should 
go  to  Washington  with  the  necessary  books  and  papers.  I 
went  on  the  following  order : 

HEADQUARTERS  TWELFTH  CORPS, 

HARPER'S  FERRY,  Va.,  Nov.  12th,  1862. 

Rev.  Richard  Eddy,  Chaplain  of  the  60th  Reg't  N.  Y.  Yols., 
will  proceed  to  Washington,  on  business  connected  with  his  regi 
ment,  and  return  as  soon  as  possible. 
By  command  of  Major-General  Slocum. 

H.  C.  ROGERS,  A.  A.  G. 

The  clothing  account  books  had  all  been  destroyed  at  the 
time  our  regimental  property  was  burned  at  Manassas,  except 
ing  the  books  of  Companies  "A"  and  "  C."  These  I  took 
with  me,  and  also  certificates  respecting  the  destruction  of  the 
others.  The  Paymaster-General  decided  that  it  was  not  pro 
per  for  me  to  enter  the  accounts  of  the  two  companies,  because 
a  certificate  of  the  correctness  of  the  account,  from  the  com 
manding  officer  of  the  company,  must  accompany  the  account 
on  the  roll.  There  were,  however,  some  important  omissions 
from  the  rolls  of  another  character,  and  these,  if  I  could  ob 
tain  the  Adjutant-General's  consent,  I  might  supply;  as  it 
was  necessary  they  should  be  supplied  before  payment  could 
be  made.  Having  obtained  the  required  consent,  I  went  to 
work,  and  for  two  days  wrote  steadily,  in  the  Adjutant- 
General's  office. 

On  returning  to  the  Ferry,  I  learned  that  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Brundage's  resignation  had  been  accepted.  On  the  16th,  he 
started  for  home  to  regain  his  health,  and  to  enjoy,  in  peaceful 
avocations,  I  most  sincerely  hope,  the  days  that  it  may  please 
God  to  grant  him  on  the  earth. 


RETURN    TO   VIRGINIA.  195 

Subsequently,  the  Governor  commissioned  Captain  J.  C.  0. 
Redington,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  with  rank  from  November  6th. 
Promotions  with  rank  from  same  date  were  made  of  First 
Lieutenant  James  Young,  to  Captain;  Second  Lieutenant 
Thomas  Hobart,  to  First  Lieutenant,  and  Orderly-Sergeant 
G.  M.  Eastman,  to  Second  Lieutenant.  One  Diven  was  also, 
by  connivance  of  Redington  with  General  Jackson,  made 
First  Lieutenant,  with  rank  from  November  5th.  This  was 
an  outrage.  There  was  no  vacancy  November  5th ;  besides 
Diven  was  an  outsider,  a  civilian,  and  the  position  was  given 
him  not  on  account  of  qualification  or  merit,  but  to  gratify  his 
father,  a  •  member  of  Congress,  and  a  Colonel  in  some  other 
regiment,  who  wanted  a  place  for  his  son  on  the  Staff  of 
Brigadier-General  Jackson.  He  went  immediately  "  to  his  own 
place,"  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  will  remain  there. 

On  the  15th  Lieutenant  James  M.  King  was  discharged, 
having  tendered  his  resignation  on  Surgeon's  certificate  of 
disability,  he  never  having  recovered  from  the  effects  of  typhus 
fever.  Diven's  appointment,  although  his  rank  was  given 
him  ten  days  before  Lieutenant  King's  discharge,  was  in 
tended,  I  suppose,  to  fill  this  vacancy. 

On  the  21st,  Lieutenant  N.  M.  Dickinson,  who  had  been 
sick  since  the  campaign  in  Maryland,  obtained  leave  of  absence 
for  twenty  days,  and  went  home. 

Major  Godard  was  appointed  Provost  Marshal  of  Harper's 
Ferry,  on  the  23d,  and  inaugurated  several  important  reforms; 
one  of  the  most  serviceable  being  the  cleaning  of  the  streets 
and  sidewalks,  a  thing  that  had  been  neglected  so  long  that 
getting  down  to  the  original  foundations  was  like  untombing 
an  ancient  city ! 

General  Jackson  desired  an  interview  with  me  on  the  25th, 
and  I  went  up  to  his  Headquarters.  He  desired  some  infor 
mation  with  regard  to  the  regiment,  especially  with  reference 
to  sending  out  some  officers  to  obtain  recruits.  I  gave  my 
opinion  that  no  success  could  be  expected  in  recruiting  until 


196  RETURN    TO   VIRGINIA. 

the  Field  Officers  were  appointed.  He  replied  that  nothing 
would  be  done  about  that  until  the  regiment  was-  filled  up, 
and  that  he  had  written  to  the  Governor  not  to  fill  such  va 
cancies. 

I  took  counsel  of  some  other  Generals  in  the  matter,  all  of ! 
whom  thought  that  Jackson  had  sadly  gone  out  of  his  way ; 
especially  as  our  regiment  had  how  more  men  in  it  than  any 
other,  in  the  command  !' 

On  Monday,  December  1st,  we  moved  Headquarters  to  a 
larger  and  pleasanter. house  in  High  Street,  and  congratulated 
ourselves  in  having  got  into  very  comfortable  winter  quarters. 
On  the  2d,  the  Quartermaster's  wife  and  child  came,  and 
living  began  once  more  to  seem  human. 

Lieutenants  Gleason  and  C.  H.  Dickinson,  who  had  resigned 
on  account  of  ill  health,  were  notified  on  the  5th,  that  they 
were  honorably  discharged.  The  latter  left  that  day;  but, 
owing  to  strategy,  a  very  popular  thing  in  the  army,  the 
former  did  not  get  off  till  the  next  day ;  at  which  time,  Cap 
tain  Thomas  was  sent  off  on  some  errand  in  regard  to  con 
valescents  ! 

Subsequently,  Sergeant  Stephen  Adams  was  promoted  to  , 
Second  Lieutenant,  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  discharge 
of  Gleason,  and  Sergeant  J.  Ingram  to  Second  Lieutenant,  in 
place  of  C.  H.  Dickinson ;  the  former  with  rank  from  Novem 
ber  27th,  the  latter  from  November  20th. 

Major  Godard  had  been  sick  a  long  time,  and  being  satisfied, 
as  was  the  Surgeon,  that  his  disease  had  become  chronic,  he 
obtained  a  certificate  of  disability,  and  tendered  his  resigna 
tion  on  the  8th.  The  order  for  his  discharge  was  made  out  on 
the  13th,  I  believe,  and  when  it  reached  him;  a  few  days  after, 
he  started  for  home. 

Some  time  afterwards,  Captain  Winslow  M.  Thomas  was 
commissioned  Major,  and  Quartermaster  E.  A.  Merritt,  Cap 
tain  of  Company  "  D  ;"  both  with  rank  from  December  30th. 
The  latter  immediately  declined  the  commission  and  returned 


RETURN    TO   VIRGINIA.  197 

it  to  Albany,  with  a  strong  request  that  the  office  should  be 
given  to  SeVgeant  Volney  M.  Carter,  whose  recommendation 
for  the  First  Lieutenancy  had  been  set  aside  to  make  a  place 
for  the  fellow  Diven,  and  who,  on  account  of  the  long-continued 
sickness  of  all  the  company  officers,  had,  by  faithful  discharge 
of  duty,  as  the  commanding  officer,  richly  merited  and  earned 
the  promotion. 

The  request  was  not  without  effect,  for  a  commission  came 
for  Captain  Carter,  with  rank  from  December  30th. 

Not  till  about  this  time,  did  we  cease  to  have  new  cases  of 
typhus  fever ;  but  here  we  reached,  after  having  had,  in  all, 
767  cases,  the  bottom  line.  It  had  been  a  terrible  scourge  to 
us,  continually  imposing  the  most  exhaustive  duties,  and  com 
pelling  familiarity  with  the  most  heart-rending  scenes.  God 
save  us  from  a  repetition. of  such  experiences ! 


17* 


198  THE    MARCH   TO   DUMFRIES. 


XIII. 
THE  MARCH  TO  DUMFRIES. 

ON  the  9th  of  December,  the  following  Order  was  issued 
to  the  command ; 

HEADQUARTERS  60TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  S.  YOLS., 
HARPER'S  FERRY,  Ya., 

November  9th,  1862. 
REGIMENTAL  ORDER.     No.  94. 

I.  In  obedience  to  General  Order  No.  29,  Headquarters  Second 
Division  Twelfth  Army  Corps,  this  regiment  will  be  in  readiness 
to  move  at  5  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Reveille  will  be  at  3  o'clock,  A.  M.  The  companies  will  form 
on  their  various  parade  grounds,  at  a  quarter  of  5,  in  entire 
readiness  for  a  march,  and  stack  arms. 

Commanders  of  companies  will  be  held  strictly  responsible 
that  every  man  is  present  except  those  admitted  by  the  Surgeon 
into  the  Hospital,  and  the  mechanics  detailed  under  Captain 
Flagg.  For  the  securing  of  this,  there  will  be  a  roll-call,  at 
which  all  the  commissioned  officers  will  be  present,  at  a  quarter 
of  5  o'clock,  and  another  when  the  line  is  formed  for  starting. 

II.  Each  man  will  be  provided  with  two  days'  rations  in  haver 
sacks,  and  40  rounds  of  cartridges  in  boxes,  as  well  as  a  rifle  and 
accoutrements. 

III.  The  tents  and  improvements  will  be  left  standing,  except 
one  wall-tent  for  each  set  of  Company  Officers.     These  as  well 
as  the  three  ordered  for  the  Field  and  Staff,  (by  General  Order 
No.  160  War  Department,)  will  be  carried  on  the  wagon. 

IY.  The  General  commanding  the  Division  has  reiterated,  in 
strongest  terms,  the  sentiments  of  General  Order  No.  155,  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  concerning  straggling — the  strict  punishment  for 
which  is  death. 


THE   MARCH    TO   DUMFRIES.  199 

Commanders  of  companies  will  march  in  rear  of  their  com 
mands,  and  allow  no  man  to  leave  the  ranks  except  upon  ex- 
tremest  emergency.  At  the  various  halts  the  men  will  not  be 
allowed  t'o  wander  away.  A  sufficient  rear-guard  will  be  de 
tailed,  who  will  arrest  and  report  all  stragglers.  A  permit  to 
leave  the  regiment  must  be  signed  by  the  regimental  com 
mander.  No  man  will  apply  to  him  for  permission  to  leave  the 
regiment  without  producing  a  written  permission  from  his  com-  * 
pany  commander. 

V.  The  Surgeon  will  supply  a  list  of  all  men  to  be  left  in  Hos 
pital.     They  will  be  furnished  with   their  descriptive  lists,  in 
default  of  which  they  will  be  denied  admittance.  -  . , ; 

VI.  Fellow-soldiers  :  We  are  called  upon  again  for  active  ser 
vice.     Shall  we  respond  worthy  of  Northern  New  York  ? 

By  order  of  Capt.  J.  C.  0.  KEDINGTON, 

Commanding  Regt. 
L.  S.  WILLSON-, 

Adjutant  60th  N.  Y.  S.  Vols. 

The  whole  Corps  was  to  move,  and  we  understood  that  we 
were  to  go  to  Burnside,  at  Falmouth.  Five  A.  M.,  on  the 
10th,  was  the  hour  fixed  on/for  starting,  and  when  the  hour 
came,  we  were  ready,  but  some  delay  occurring,  as  usual,  it 
was  near  noon  before  the  regiment  got  fairly  under  way. 

Rich  and  myself  stayed  behind  with  the  Quartermaster, 
who  had  a  good  deal  of  Government  property  on  his  hands 
to  dispose  of,  and  having  sent  our  trunks  home,  we  started  at 
10  the  next  morning,  to  rejoin  the  troops,  and^  after  a  horse 
back  ride  of  27  miles,  came  up  with  the  regiment  at  7.30  P. 
M.,  bivouacked  in  a  field  five  miles  south  of  Leesburg.  It 
was  a  very  frosty  night,  but,  by  putting  all  our  blankets  to 
gether,  we  were  jnot  affected  by  the  weather. 

The  next  morning  we  were  off,  at  6.30.  We  supposed,  at 
starting,  that  we  were  to  bring  up  at  night  at  Centreville,  13 
miles  distant ;  but  at  2  P.  M.,  we  came  to  a  halt  about  mid 
way  of  the  two  places.  There  we  remained  over  night,  and, 
putting  up  our  tents,  had  a  very  comfortable  time.  At  day- 


200  THE    MARCH   TO   DUMFRIES. 

light  next  day  we  started  on,  halting  for  the  night  in  a  pine 
grove  at  Fairfax  C.  H.,  a  place  which  might,  perhaps,  have 
looked  very  well  before  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion  •  but 
is  most  decidedly  dilapidated  now.  D.  M.  Robertson  and 
myself  rode  together  most  of  the  day,  and  some  of  the  time  in 
advance,  for  the  purpose  of  looking  at  the  country.  All  we 
saw,  seemed  like  a  barren  waste.  Some  negroes  we  met 
thought  it  was  very  good  land,  however,  for  ",they  could  raise 
two  barrels  of  corn  on  an  acre !" 

The  next  day,  Sunday,  Dec.  14,  we  marched  all  day,  but 
very  slowly,  for  the  artillery  so  cut  up  the  roads  that  it  was 
very  difficult  for  the  teams  to  follow.  Fording  Occoquan 
river,  we  made  only  about  eight  miles,  and  halted  just  before 
dark.  It  was  9  o'clock  before  the  teams  got  up,  and  quite 
late  before  we  got  our  supper,  and  were  ready  to  sleep. 

The  rumor  that  General  Banks,  having  manreuvred  with  his 
fleet,  as  if  he  was  going  to  sea,  had  suddenly  put  about,  and, 
entering  the  James  river,  had  taken  and  destroyed  Fort  Dar 
ling,  reached  us  next  morning,  and  for  awhile  gave  us  much 
joy.  That  day  we  marched  about  eight  miles  further,  and, 
after  fording  the  Neabsco  river,  parked  all  the  teams  together, 
and  halted  for  the  night.  Rich  will  remember  that  we  had 
to  go  a  long  distance  for  water,  and  that  it  was  very  late  again 
before  we  got  anything  to  eat.  In  the  night  the  wind  blew 
down  one  corner  of  our  tent,  and  at  about  4  o'clock  in  the 
morning  it  began  to  rain  with  great  violence,  and  kept  it  up 
till  9  o'clock.  We  were  on  the  move  again  at  8,  but  the  roads 
grew  so  bad  that  we  were  till  noon  getting  three  miles. 

Shortly  after  noon  we  found  it  impossible  to  get  the  teams 
any  further,  and  halted  on  a  hill,  about  a  mile  north  of  Dum 
fries.  Having  procured  some  fresh  beef  here,  a  good  portion 
of  the  night  was  spent  in  cooking  it  ~}  but  some  choice  pieces 
were  saved  for  broiling  at  any  temporary  halt  we  might  make 
during  the  following  days. 

On  the  17th  we  started  to  return,  as  the  roads  were  in  such 


THE    MARCH   TO    DUMFRIES.  201 

terrible  condition  that  even  if  we  could  have  got  the  teams 
through  that  we  had  with  us,  it  would  have  been  impossible 
for  any  to  have  followed  with  supplies.  At  noon  Rich  and 
myself  had  got  some  distance  in  advance  of  the  Regiment, 
and,  halting  at  an  old  rebel  camp,  we  treated  ourselves  to  some 
broiled  beef  and  pork,  the  mention  of  which  here  makes  me 
long  to  repeat  that  part  of  the  day's  experience.  What,  in  the 
eating  line,  could  be  more  delicious ! 

In  the  afternoon  a  heavy  snow  storm  overtook  us,  which 
lasted  about  an  hour;  after  which  it  grew  very  cold.  That 
night  it  was  impossible  to  sleep  warm.  It  was  manifest  the 
next  day,  however,  that  the  frost  had  been  greatly  to  our  ad 
vantage,  for  it  so  hardened  the  roads  that  we  were  able  to  get 
along  much  faster.  That  noon,  as  the  troops  and  teams  made 
but  slow  progress  in  fording  the  Occoquan,  Rich  and  myself 
improved  the  time  by  repeating  the  experiment  of  the  day  be 
fore,  adding  thereto  a  cup  of  coffee;  and  rendering  judgment 
that  on  the  whole  it  was  an  improvement  on  the  previous 
feast. 

We  halted  for  the  night,  on  the  18th,  about  three  miles 
south  of  Fairfax  Station.  It  was  an  intensely  cold  night.  We 
tried  to  have  a  good  fire,  but  the  wood  with  a  "  peculiar  bark/' 
which  Merritt  recommended  very  highly,  did  not  give  out 
much  heat,  and  we  found  it  most  comfortable  to  get  under  our 
blankets. 

On  Friday,  the  19th,  we  marched  towards  Fairfax  Station, 
and  halted  in  a  piece  of  woods,  about  one  mile  south  of  the 
railroad.  At  5  in  the  afternoon,  having  pitched  tents,  and 
eaten  a  hearty  supper,  a  good  log  fire  was  made  in  front  of  the 
tent,  and,  as  the  body. was  comfortable,  our  Mess  was  in  excel 
lent  humor,  and  after  passing  the  evening  in  commemorating 
the  friendship  of  Lord  Byron  and  Tom  Moore,  and  singing 
the  praises  of  Ellen  Bayne;  we  lay  down  to  a  most  comfortable 
repose. 


202  CAMP    COMFORT. 


XIV. 
CAMP  COMFORT. 

THE  camp  at  Fairfax  was  located  on  a  ridge  of  land,  covered 
with  hard  wood.  It  was,  therefore,  a  dry  and  comfortable 
spot;  and  as  the  cold  season  was  now  on  us,  it  was  for  some 
time  convenient  for  fuel,  but,  before  leaving,  it  became  neces 
sary  to  draw  wood  from  a  distance. 

Captain  Redington  received  his  commission  as  Lieutenant- 
Colonel*  while  we  were  at  this  place,  and  applying  to  Captain 
Hyde  to  name  the  camp,  the  latter  fancied  that  the  new  com 
mander  was  fishing  for  a  compliment,  and,  not  willing  to  gra 
tify  him,  suggested  that  -it  would,  in  his  opinion,  be  most  ap 
propriate  to  call  it  "  Camp  Retreat."  This  did  not  seem  to 
answer  the  purpose,  and  so  the  place  went  without  a  name, 
excepting  the  headquarters  of  our  Mess,  which  will  always  be 
remembered  as  having  been  appropriately  called  "  Camp 
Comfort." 

On  Christmas  morning,  General  G-eary,  commanding  the 
Second  Division,  issued  an  order  that  "  no  unnecessary  labor 
shall  be  performed,  but  that  the  day  shall  be  spent  in  rational 

*  The  Lieutenant-Colonel  owed  his  appointment,  not  to  the 
wishes  of  the  Regiment — for  they  were  opposed  to  it — but  to  the 
personal  application  of  a  newly  elected  Member  of  Congress,  who 
also  came  very  near  inducing  the  Governor  to  make  the  Major  of 
the  28th  New  York  our  Colonel.  This  will  only  surprise  those 
who  know  nothing  of  his  treachery  in  the  matter  of  the  Lieute 
nant-Colonelcy. 


CAMP   COMFORT.  203 

enjoyment,  with  tender  memory  and  Christian  hope  for  those 
who  have  fallen  in  battle,  and  with  confident  expectation  that 
we  may  be  permitted  to  spend  our  next  Christmas  by  the  fire 
sides  we  are  now  so  gallantly  defending." 

The  day  passed  off  very  pleasantly  and  very  quietly  for  us. 
Redington,  Dickinson,  and  Willson  started  at  daylight  to 
make  a  visit  to  the  142d  New  York,  but  missed  the  road,  and 
did  not  find  the  right  course  till  it  was  too  late  for  them  to 
take  it.  Returning  to  camp,  they  arrived  about  midnight. 

Several  of  the  142d  found  our  camp  early  in  the  morning, 
and  spent  the  day  with  us.  Captain  Gale  also  came  out  from 
Alexandria,  and  we  had  a  very  happy  day. 

On  the  27th,  Darwin  A.  Hudson,  one  of  our  teamsters,  and 
a  member  of  Company  "  K,"  found  a  pocket-book,  containing 
$43.50.  There  was  no  mark  on  it  to  indicate  who  the  owner 
was,  and,  without  making  inquiry  or  posting  a  notice,  no 
claimant  would  probably  appear.  Hudson  was  anxious  that 
the  owner  should  be  found,  if  possible,  and  so  put  the  money 
in  my  hands  till  a  fair  trial  of  the  matter  could  be  had.  I 
determined  on  posting  a  notiee  at  the  Division  Post  Office, 
and,  having  written  one,  took  it  up  for  the  Postmaster  to 
place  in  a  conspicuous  place.  He  had  lost  his  money,  and, 
on  describing  the  wallet  and  its  contents,  we  were  satisfied 
that  we  had  his  property,  and  delivered  it  to  him.  The 
honest  finder  was  rewarded,  most  of  all  by  the  consciousness 
of  having  done  his  duty,  and  the  reputation  of  the  Regiment 
was  raised  by  his  fidelity. 

On  the  evening  of  the  27th,  our  Division  went  out  on  a 
reconnoissance,  leaving  a  small  force  from  each  regiment  to 
guard  the  camp.  Not  feeling  well,  I  remained  behind.  The 
troops  went  out  towards  Dumfries,  as  far  as  the  old  rebel 
camp  previously  referred  to,  but  saw  no  rebels  in  force,  except 
a  squad  of  cavalry,  which  rode  up  to  within  a  short  distance 
of  General  Slocum  and  staff,  and,  discharging  their  carbines, 
wheeled  and  fled. 


204  CAMP   COMFORT. 

On  the  28th,  we  had  word  that  a  rebel  force  was  between 
us  and  our  advance,  and  preparations  were  made  to  destroy 
everything  in  case  they  should  dash  in  upon  us.  We  saw 
nothing  of  them;  but  they  made  an  attack  that  night  at 
Burke's  Station,  only  four  miles  from  us,  where  they  commit- 
-ted  some  depredations  on  the  railroad,  and  ran  off  a  small 
quantity  of  commissaries'  and  sutlers'  stores. 

The  next  day,  as  a  portion  of  our  camp  guard  had  been  sent 
out  on  picket  duty,  under  Lieutenant  Dickinson,  Rich  con 
cluded  to  exercise  my  horse,  and  gratify  himself,  by  riding 
out  to  see  them.  The  horse  being  in  good  spirits,  took  to 
leaping  some  of  the  ditches  near  one  of  the  picket  posts,  and 
the  guards  were  suspicious,  from  the  way  he  jumped,  that  he 
must  be  a  rebel  beast,  and  why  not  a  rebel  spy  that  was  on 
him  ?  On  Rich's  riding  up  to  them,  to  inquire  the  where 
abouts  of  Post  No.  3,  they  arrested  him,  and,  thinking  they 
had.  a  prize,  brought  him  up  to  camp  to  Colonel  Sudsbury, 
who  was  in  command.  A  great  crowd  gathered  round,  and 
all  who  did  not  know  Rich  were  quite  confident  that  they  had 
a  real  rebel  before  them.  .  His  being  in  citizen's  dress  greatly 
confirmed  their  suspicions,  and  it  became  necessary  to  send 
for  me  to  get  him  out  of  the  scrape.  He  was  released  on  my 
appearing;  "but,"  said  the  Dutch  Colonel,  "  dem  coat  and 
dem  pantaloons  is  \&ery  much  suspicion  I" 

On  the  30th,  the  troops  returned.  They  brought  back  with 
them  a  few  wounded  men,  whom  they  found  in  the  woods 
where  the  rebels  had  made  a  dash,  and  the  dead  body  of  a 
Lieutenant,  who  had  been  stripped  of  all  his  clothing  by  the 
rebels,  and  whose  face  was  terribly  disfigured  by  tiie  hogs. 

On  New  Year's  Day  the  men  began  in  earnest  to  fix  up 
winter  quarters.  Comfortable  log-houses  were  built,  the  tents 
serving  for  roof;  and  fireplaces  were  so  arranged  as  to  econo 
mize  both  fuel  and  heat. 

At  this  time  I  went  home,  on  a  short  leave  of  absence,  and 
while  there,  saw  by  an  Albany  paper  that  our  late  Major  had 


CAMP    COMFORT.  205 

been  commissioned  Colonel.  Subsequently  General  Jackson 
sent  over  to  the  Lieutenant-Colonel  a  package  from  Albany, 
supposed  to  contain  Colonel  Godard's  commission.  I  never 
saw  the  package,  and  do  not  know  what  became  of  it,  but  feel 
quite  sure  that  the  officer  holding  it  did  not  notify  Colonel 
Godard  that  it  was  in  his  possession ;  but,  some  time  after,  and 
on  the  very  wise  suggestion  of  General  Jackson,  he  reported 
that  the  Colonel  of  the  Regiment  was  "  absent  without  leave." 
On  my  return  to  camp  the  information  contained  in  the 
Albany  paper  was  soon  circulated,  and  Captain  Elliott  came 
to  me,  saying,  that  the  Line  Officers  had  been  in  consultation, 
and  had  concluded  to  send  the  Colonel  a  protest  against  his 
accepting  the  appointment,  and  desired  m§  to  draw  up  the 
paper,  which  I  did,  but  am  not  aware  that  it  was  ever  circu 
lated. 

On  the  7th  of  January,  Perry  Stacy,  of  Company  "  H," 
died  at  camp,  of  lung  fever.  His  remains  were  sent  to  Clin 
ton  County.  This  .was  the  last  death  that  occurred  in  camp 
during  my  stay  with  the  Regiment. 

On  the  13th,  we  fixed  up  the  headquarters  of  our  Mess  in 
comfortable  style,  building  a  chimney  and  fireplace,  and 
making  a  floor  of  small  pine  logs  for  our  sleeping  tent.  A 
grand  house-warming,  including  all  the  festivities,  celebrated 
the  conclusion  of  the  work  in  the  evening,  the  Quartermaster 
furnishing  the  music  for  the  occasion. 

Some  time  in  the  night  we  got  orders  to  be  in  readiness  to 
march  at  twelve  hours'  notice,  with  three  days'  cooked  rations 
in  haversacks,  and  eight  days'  rations  in  wagons. 

The  President  having  promised  me  a  transfer  to  one  of  the 
hospitals  whenever  I  should  desire  it,  several  considerations 
induced  me  to  make  application  at  this  time ;  and  having  re 
ceived  the  officers'  signatures  to  the  following,  accompanied 
with  a  recommendation  from  General  Greene,  I  forwarded  it 
to  Dr.  Bliss,  of  Baltimore,  who  sent  it,  with  his  approval,  to 
the  Department  at  Washington  : 
18 


206  CAMP   COMFORT. 

"  The  Rev.  Richard  Eddy,  an  ordained  Christian  Minister,  and 
the  regularly  appointed  Chaplain  of  the  Sixtieth  Regiment  N.  Y. 
S.  Vols.,  having  faithfully  and  acceptably  discharged  the  duties 
of  his  office  since  the  organization  of  the  Regiment,  and  now  de 
siring,  on  account  of  his  family,  to  be  appointed  to  the  Chaplain 
cy  of  the  Continental  Hotel  Hospital,  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  is  hereby 
recommended  as  well  qualified  for  the  position." 

The  Senate  having  failed  to  confirm  several  similar  appoint 
ments,  the  President  was  unwilling  to  make  any  new  ones,  and 
so  nothing  more  came  of  my  efforts  in  that  direction. 

On  the  17th,  we  were  ordered  to  be  in  readiness  to  march 
at  daylight  the  next  morning.  Dr.  Gale  having  resigned  on 
surgeon's  certificate  of  disability,  his  discharge  at  headquar 
ters  dates  from  this  day,  although  he  did  not  receive  it  till 
several  days  after.*  At  midnight  our  marching  orders  were 
countermanded,  and  we  busied  ourselves  the  next  day  in  put 
ting  up  a  shelter  for  our  horses,  and  in  otherwise  preparing 
for  a  permanent  stay. 

*  In  a  final-  settlement  with  a  discharged  officer,  payment  is 
made  up  to  the  time  of  his  receiving  his  papers  from  the  Regi 
mental  Adjutant,  without  reference  to  the  date  from  General 
Headquarters. 


GETTING  OUT  OF  SERVICE.  207 


XV. 

GETTING  OUT  OF  SERVICE. 

ON  the  19th  of  January,  we  received  notice,  early  in  the 
morning,  that  we  were  to  march  at  noon ;  but  owing  to  delays 
in  getting  the  baggage  train  started,  we  did  not  leave  camp 
till  nearly  four  in  the  afternoon.  After  marching  about  three 
miles  we  halted  for  the  night,  having  a  very  comfortable 
bivouac  in  the  woods. 

The  next  morning,  at  8  o'clock,  we  were  off  again,  and  as 
the  roads  were  in  splendid  condition,  we  got  on  to  within  a 
half  mile  of  Dumfries,  where  we  found  a  well  wooded  and 
sheltered  place  for  our  stay  during  the  night.  A  severe  north 
east  storm  came  upon  us  before  morning,  which  so  drew  the 
frost  from  the  ground  that  it  was  found  almost  impossible  to 
start  the  wagons.  The  mud  grew  deeper  at  every  step,  and 
although  men  and  beasts  worked  faithfully  during  the  whole 
day,  night  found  the  rear  of  our  train  but  half  a  mile  beyond 
Dumfries. 

It  became  necessary  for  the  mounted  men  and  the  teams  to 
ford  the  Quantico,  which  had  been  considerably  swollen  by 
the  continuous  rain ;  and  not  a  few  got  badly  wet.  I  remem 
ber  that  General  Greene,  having  a  short-legged  horse,  thought 
to  keep  dry  by  accepting  the  use  of  another,  but  accidentally 
hitting  the  beast  with  his  spurs,  as  he  raised  his  feet  that  they 
might  clear  the  water,  the  horse  made  such  haste  to  cross  that 
he  struck  into  the  deepest  places,  and  the  General  got  an  ex 
traordinary  dose  of  that  which  he  had  hoped  to  escape. 

That  night,  several  of  us  stopped  at  the  house  of  a  Mr. 


208  GETTING  OUT  OF  SERVICE. 

Dunnington,  and  made  a  "  Field  bed"  of  his  parlor  floor.  An 
ex-music  teacher  in  our  group  put  on  a  great  many  airs,  and 
was  sometimes  silly  and  sometimes  ridiculous  in  his  preten 
sions  and  bearing.  Our  host  had  for  several  years  been  Su 
perintendent  of  the  Capitol  Grounds,  at  Washington,  but, 
being  in  sympathy  with  what  he  called  the  "  States  Rights" 
party,  had  resigned,  after  the  inauguration  of  President 
Lincoln. 

The  next  day  the  storm  continued,  the  mud  deepened,  and 
with  the  utmost  exertion  it  was  found  impossible  to  get  our 
teams  on  more  than  half  a  mile.  I  noticed,  in  several  places, 
that  it  was  all  that  eleven  span  of  horses  could  do  to  draw  the 
caissons  belonging  to  the  six-pound  field  pieces.  Some  of  our 
party  of  the  night  before  found  shelter  in  another  house  at  the 
close  of  this  clay,  bilt  others  of  us  concluded  that  it  would  be 
more  agreeable  out-doors,  and,  having  made  a  bed  of  about 
eight  inches  of  boughs,  we  pitched  our  tent  over  it,  and  passed 
a  quiet  and  comfortable  night.  The  men  got  a  somewhat 
sheltered  place  in  the  edge  of  the  woods,  and 'fared  much 
better  than  the  night  before. 

Before  morning  the  rain  ceased.  A  little  past  daylight,  we 
made  another  move,  and,  by  night,  had  travelled  four  miles. 
"VVe  bivouacked  that  night  in  an  orchard,  just  south  of  Cannon 
river.  Orders  had  been  given,  on  starting  that  morning,  to 
keep  the  teams  going,  and,  if  necessary,  throw  out  and  aban 
don  the  loads. 

The  next  day,  Saturday,  24th,  we  marched  four  miles  far 
ther,  and  reached  camp,  just  south  of  Stafford  Court  House, 
the  Headquarters  of  General  Sigel,  whose  reserves  we  again 
were,  about  dark.  We  made  camp  on  a  pine  ridge,  which 
was  neither  a  pleasant,  convenient  nor  healthy  spot.  In  the 
cold,  wet  weather  which  followed,  it  was  found  very  difficult 
to  obtain  any  fuel  that  would  burn.  Our  mess  fixed  up  quar 
ters  in  a  little  glen  below  the  ridge,  and  have  very  pleasant 
memories  of  the  place  as  "Camp  Evergreen." 


GETTING  OUT  OF  SERVICE.  209 

Stafford  Court  House,  the  shire  town  of  Stafford  County,  is 
one  of  the  ugliest-appearing  places  one  could  ask  to  see.  Set 
tled  in  1660,  it  appears  to  have  had  no  improvements  for  at 
least  a  century.  The  Court  House  is  a  tumble-down  and  filthy 
building,  and  the  jail,  which  stands  in  the  middle  of  the  road, 
is  a  miserable  two-story  affair,  built  of  rough  stone.  The 
lower  story  is  occupied  by  hogs,  and  the  upper  is  reached  by 
stairs  from  the  outside.  With  but  one  exception,  the  few 
surrounding  dwellings  are  of  somewhat  similar  appearance, 
and,  like  the  soil,  are  worn  out. 

On  the  27th,  Paymaster  J.  M.  Austin  brought  money  to  the 
145th  New  York  Volunteers  in  our  Brigade ;  an  event  which 
some  of  our  men  turned  to  advantage  by  disposing  of  their  old 
watches  and  other  trinkets.  Aldous,  the  Adjutant's  man, 
went  somewhat  extensively  into  the  manufacture  of  patent 
maple  molasses,  ;the  demand  for  which  sometimes  exceeded  the 
supply. 

While  we  were  at  this  place,  we  were  visited  with  several 
quite  severe  snow  storms,  which  made  it  very  uncomfortable 
for  the  men,  and  kept  the  roads  in  almost  impassable  con 
dition.  Some  of  the  time,  it  was  impossible  to  keep  a  fire, 
and,  as  the  accumulating  snow  set  the  tents  to  leaking,  we  had 
some  cheerless  days.  In  the  midst  of  this  dreary  season,  1 
had  quite  an  attack  of  dysentery,  but,  happily,  it  did  not  last 
much  more  than  a  week.  Our  Quartermaster  was  detailed 
for  a  short  time  to  take  charge  of  the  Forage  Department  on 
Acquia  Creek,  and  several  of  our  teams  were  sent  down  to 
subsist  there,  thus  saving  the  severe  toil  of  drawing  the  forage 
over  the  muddy  roads. 

On  the  29th,  Captains  Hyde  and  Snyder,  and  Lieutenants 
Clark  and  Hurst,  having  tendered  their  resignations,  were 
honorably  discharged  from  the  service. 

Major  Bull,  our  Paymaster,  came  on  the  30th,  and  during 
that  and  the  following  day,  paid  us  the  first  money  we  had  re 
ceived  since  July.  He  was  an  acceptable  visitor,  as  nearly 
18* 


210  GETTING   OUT    OF    SERVICE. 

all  were  out  of  funds,  and  families  at  home  were  in  need  of 
help.  The  men  at  once  put  the  principal  part  of  their  pay 
in  my  hands,  that  I  might,  as  on  former  occasions,  forward  it 
to  their  families.  Several  changes  in  reference  to  the  mode 
of  procuring  leave  of  absence  were  made  about  that  time ; 
and  I  sought,  by  complying  with  all,  to  attain  the  object 
somehow.  Our  wise  commandant  was  not  disposed  to  be  very 
accommodating  in  the  matter,  and  returned  one  of  my  appli 
cations,  endorsed  "  frivolous."  I  persevered,  however,  and 
subsequently,  by  going  directly  to  the  General,  received  what 
I  might  have  obtained  at  any  time  before,  had  I  made  my 
application  direct. 

On  the  second  day  in  February,  we  got  a  very  acceptable 
change  in  the  weather.  The  sun  came  out  warm,  the  snow 
disappeared,  and  the  ground  began  to  dry ;  but  in  a  few  days 
rains  set  in,  and  the  roads  became  worse  than  ever. 

Captain  J.  M.  Ransom,  having  resigned,  was  honorably 
discharged  on  the  2d. 

On  the  6th,  we  got  by  far  the  worst  storm  of  the  season. 
For  thirty-six  hours,  the  snow,  mingled  with  rain,  poured 
down  without  interruption.  We  had  little  hard  wood  for  fuel, 
and  it  was  almost  impossible  to  get  anything  but  smoke  from 
the  wet  pine.  The  men  suffered  very  much  in  this  storm, 
but  bore  all  with  remarkable  patience  and  cheerfulness. 

On  the  8th,  we  broke  camp  at  noon,  and  started  for  Acquia 
Creek.  Owing  to  the  terrible  condition  of  the  roads,  it  was 
midnight  before  we  came  to  a  halt.  Bivouacking  in  the  woods 
for  the  night,  we  selected  a  permanent  camp  in  the  morning, 
and  the  men,  having  an  intimation  that  they  were  to  stay 
there  some  time,  went  to  work  to  build  log  huts.  An  old  oak, 
some  five  feet  or  more  in  diameter,  located  at  a  convenient 
distance  from  Regimental  Headquarters,  was  selected  by  our 
mess  as  indicating  the  place  where  we  should  pitch  our  tent. 
It  will  never  be  forgotten  as  proving  a  happy  home  to  us. 
We  all  desired  a  picture  of  the  pleasant  spot,  but  have  none 


GETTING   OUT   OF   SERVICE.  211 

save  that  which  memory  produces.  In  that,  the  venerable 
tree  stands  out  prominent,  and  our  sheltered  kitchen  and 
dining-room  is  not  far  nor  dim  in  the  back-ground. 

On  the  way  to  Acquia,  we  passed  through  an  old  estate,  on 
which  was  a  much-defaced  grave-stone,  bearing  the  following 
inscription : 

"  Here  is  interred  the  body  of  Margaret,  the  wife  of  Peter 
Hedgeman,  of  Stafford  Co.,  gentleman,  and  daughter  of  John 
Mauzy,  gentleman,  deceased.  She  was  married  the  21st  day  of 
September,  A.  D.  1721,  and  had  by  him  nine  children,  of  which 
three  sons,  only,  survived  her.  As  she  was  a  woman  of  great 
virtue  and  goodness,  she  lived  beloved,  and  died  much  lamented 
(by  all  who  had  the  happiness  of  her  acquaintance)  on  the  10th 
day  of  January,  A.  D.  1754,  in  the  52d  year  of  her  age.  Conjux 
Dolenea." 

Captain  William  Montgomery,  having  tendered  his  resigna 
tion  just  previous  to  our  leaving  Stafford,  was  notified,  on  the 
10th,  that  it  had  been  accepted,  and  he  left  for  home. 

We  had  hardly  got  fixed  in  our  new  quarters  before  another 
snow  storm  came  upon  us,  and  for  awhile  seriously  interfered 
with  the  efforts  of  the  men  to  provide  themselves  with  com 
fortable  Shelter.  As  soon  as  the  storm  was  over  it  was  very 
obvious  what  we  had  been  brought  to  the  place  for.  The 
engineers  laid  out  a  line  of  forts,  and  the  men,  provided  with 
picks,  spades  and  axes,  went  to  work,  with  a  hearty  will,  to 
fortify  and  strengthen  their  situation. 

I  obtained  leave  of  absence  from  General  Slocum,  for  five 
days,  from  the  llth,  and  went  to  Baltimore  with  $6,780,  to 
send  North  for  the  families  represented  in  our  regiment. 

Returning  on  the  16th,  I  met  Lieutenant  N.  M.  Dickinson, 
on  his  way  home,  having  been  honorably  discharged  on  the  14th. 

I  tendered  my  resignation  immediately  on  reaching  camp, 
being  induced  to  do  so  by  several  considerations,  but  chiefly 
on  account  of  ill  health  and  anxiety  of  my  mother.  It  was 


212  GETTING   OUT   OF   SERVICE. 

accepted  on  the  17th.  The  next  evening,  although  it  was 
storming  severely,  I  made  a  brief  speech  to  Company  "  A," 
urging  them  to  do  justice  in  a  matter  between  the  Adjutant 
and  themselves,  who,  some  months  before,  had,  at  their  solici 
tation,  taken  charge  of  some  funds  donated  to  the  company  by 
the  citizens  of  Canton,  and  had,  shortly  after,  lost  them.  A 
petition  had  been  circulated,  asking  the  return  of  the  funds. 
I  endeavored  to  induce  its  recall.  Subsequently,  when  the 
money  was  tendered,  I  am  informed — and  was  rejoiced  at  the 
intelligence — that  tne  company  refused  to  take  it. 

At  noon  on  the  19th,  I  took  the  steamer  Portsmouth  for 
Washington,  and  at  noon,  on  the  20th,  was  mustered  out  of 
the  military  service  of  the  United  States. 

For  the  benefit  of  such  as  suppose  the  Chaplaincy  a  lucra 
tive  position,  I  will  state  that  rny  receipts,  while  in  the  army, 
were  less,  by  about  $300,  than  my  expenses.  These  figures 
may  seem  a  little  surprising  to  such  as  have  not  had  any  ex 
perience  in  supporting  two  families  at  once ;  but  those  who, 
like  myself,  have  been  compelled  to  pay  whatever  price  was 
demanded  for  a  meal  of  victuals  in  a  private  house  in  a  coun 
try  full  of  troops,  or  an  exorbitant  rate  for  anything  obtained 
of  the  sutlers,  on  whom  officers  must  not  unfrequently  depend 
for  everything  necessary  to  sustain  life,  will  not  be  unprepared 
to  believe  my  statement  that  often  it  cost  me  as  much  per  week 
for  my  own  support,  as  it  did  to  provide  everything  necessary 
for  my  family  of  six  persons  at  home. 

Had  I  been  disposed  to  sponge  from  the  public  stores,  as 
not  a  few  of  the  ofiicers  do,  by  appropriating  to  their  own  use 
a  portion  of  the  rations  drawn  for  the  men,  or  had  I  turned 
away  from  the  purchase  of  luxuries  for  the  sick,  on  account 
of  the  exorbitant  price  demanded,*  I  might  have  made  my 

*  On  three  occasions  I  paid  50  cents  apiece  for  lemons.  The 
ordinary  price  in  the  field  was  25  cents.  For  our  suffering, 
fevered  men,  they  were  worth  their  weight  in  gold. 


GETTING    OUT   OF    SERVICE.  213 

position  of  pecuniary  advantage  to  me ;  but  the  more  frequently 
I  review  the  past,  the  greater  is  my  satisfaction  with  the 
course  pursued,  and  the  greater  my  contentment  with  the 
result. 

I  trust  I  shall  not  be  deemed  wholly  an  egotist  for  saying 
that,  although  many,  both  officers  and  men,  were  prejudiced 
against  me  when  I  entered  the  regiment,  their  aversions  all 
passed  away  long  before  I  resigned,  and  that  regrets  for  my 
departure,  and  sincere  good  wishes  for  my  future,  were  shared 
by  all  my  comrades  when  I  bade  them  Farewell. 

I  venture  to  insert  here  a  document  which  I  received  a 
short  time  after  leaving  the  60th,  and  which  was  based  on  my 
reputation  in  that  regiment. 

CAMP  HOPKINS,  lOGth  Reg.,  N.  Y.  Vols., 

NORTH  MOUNTAIN,  Va.,  April  4th,  1863. 
REV.  RICHARD  EDDY. 

DEAR  SIR:— We  the  undersigned  officers  of  the  106th  N.  Y. 
Vols.,  do  hereby  cordially  and  unanimously  tender  to  you  the 
vacant  chaplaincy  of  this  regiment,  with  the  earnest  request  that 
you  will  accept  it.  Feeling,  as  we  do,  the  necessity  of  filling  so 
responsible  a  post  with  a  minister  whose  experience  and  tastes 
qualify  him  for  it,  we  make  you  this  offer  with  entire  confidence 
in  your  ability,  character  and  piety,  and  in  your  every  qualifica 
tion  to  make  our  soldiers  Christians,  and  adorn  our  camp  life 
with  the  beauties  of  holiness.  More  than  this,  we  want  a  "  fight 
ing  chaplain,"  one  who  fears  not  to  do  his  duty  in  the  hour  of 
danger,  and  who  believes  that  the  Enfield  rifle  is  an  instrument 
in  God's  hands  to  work  out  divine  ends.  With  the  hope  that 
you  will  not  disappoint  us,  we  respectfully  and  earnestly  request 
your  acceptance  of  the  position. 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servants, 

Edward  C.  James,  Colonel;  Fred.  E.  Embick,  Lieut.-Colonel ; 
Chas.  Townsend,  Major;  Calvin  Skinner,  Surgeon;  Frederick 
H.  Petit,  1st  Asst.-Surgeon ;  Henry  H.  Carpenter,  2d  Asst.-Sur- 
geon  ;  Henry  W.  Clark,  Adjutant ;  Thos.  C.  Atcheson,  Quarter 
master;  Samuel  Parker,  Capt.  Co.  "E;"  Alvah  W.  Briggs, 


214  GETTING    OUT   OF    SERVICE. 

Capt.  Co.  "D ;"  A.  N.  McDonald,  Capt.  Co.  "  B ;"  M.  J.  Cham 
berlain,  Capt.  Co.  "  F  ;"  J.  B.  McBroom,  Capt.  Co.  "  K  ;"  Peter 
Bobertson,  Capt.  Co.  "  C  ;"  James  S.  Peach,  Capt.  Co."I ;"  Edward 
A.  Paine,  Capt.  Co.  "G;"  Eugene  Wilbur,  Capt.  Co.  "  H  ;" 
Hiram  W.  Day,  Capt.  Co.  "  A  ;"  Selden  C.  Judson,  1st  Lieut. 
Co.  "  I ;"  Alfred  J.  Hooker,  1st  Lieut.  Co.  "  A ;"  Joseph  C.  Rob 
inson,  1st  Lieut.  Co.  "  C  ;"  H.  L.  Aldrich,  1st  Lieut.  Co.  "  H  ;" 
F.  H.  Boynton,  1st  Lieut.  Co.  "F;"  Charles  C.  Jones,  1st  Lieut. 
Co.  "G;"  Charles  S.  Glass,  1st  Lieut.  Co.  "  B ;"  Samuel  A. 
Barnes,  1st  Lieut.  Co.  "  E  ;"  Gilbert  W.  Hathaway,  1st  Lieut. 
Co.  "D  ;"  Daniel  Peck,  1st  Lieut.  Co.  "  K  ;"  Miron  W.  Levings, 
2d  Lieut.  Co.  "  G ;"  Lorenzo  H.  Chandler,  2d  Lieut.  Co.  "  H ;" 
E,  W.  Shepard,  2d  Lieut.  Co. -"I;"  Robert  Roddel,  2d  Lieut. 
Co.  "B;"  Charles  Snyder,  2d  Lieut.  Co.  "C;"  Horace  Pickit, 
2d  Lieut.  Co.  "  K ;"  Wm.  A.  Merry,  2d  Lieut.  Co.  "  A j"  Thomas 
Shaw,  2d  Lieut.  Co.  "  D." 

In  speaking,  as  above,  of  the  exorbitant  prices  charged  by 
the  Sutlers,  I  would  not  be  understood  as  casting  any  reflec 
tions  on  Mr.  Tilley.  I  always  found  him  disposed  to  do  what 
was  right;  but  there  was  a  considerable  portion  of  the  time 
when  he  found  it  impossible  to  be  with  us,  and  we  were  at 
the  mercy  of  Vhoever  was  within  our  reach.  As  would  natu 
rally  be  expected,  those  whose  only  aim  was  to  make  as  much 
money  as  possible,  took  advantage  whenever  they  could. 
Their  risks  and  expenses  were  great,  and  perhaps  they  did  as 
well  as  they  thought  they  could  afford  to. 


STATISTICAL.  215 


XVI. 
STATISTICAL. 

HAVING  had  occasion  to  write  to  Dr.  Gale  while  arranging 
the  preceding  pages,  I  requested  his  opinion  of  the  cause  of  the 
fever  which  so  decimated  our  ranks  in  July  and  August, 
1862,  and  he  has  sent  me  the  following : 

"  My  theory,  based  on  my  observation  and  experience,  as 
well  as  on  the  observation  and  experience  of  medical  officers 
who  inspected  and  examined  our  sick  from  time  to  time,  is, 
that  the  cause  of  the  fever  that  spread  to  such  an  extent  in 
our  regiment  last  summer  was  acclimation.  We  were  in 
clined  to  think,  at  first,  that  the  cause  was  from  hard  march 
ing,  sleeping  without  cover,  and  a  poor  diet ;  but  when  the 
four  companies  rejoined  us  at  Little  Washington,  Va.,  and 
having  done  no  marching,  of  consequence,  but  quartered  in 
comfortable  barracks,  had  been  having  a  good  diet,  became  in 
ten  days  equally  sick  with  the  six  companies  which  were  suffer 
ing  with  the  fever  when  the  others  joined  us,  the  cause  was  then 
attributed  to  acclimation." 

In  confirmation  of  this  opinion  I  would  refer  the  reader  to 
what  I  have  quoted  from  the  Sanitary  Commission  Report, 
in  Chapter  VI. 

EELIGIOUS   SERVICES. 

The  following  religious  services  were  performed  by  me  in 
the  regiment : 


216  STATISTICAL. 

1861. 

Sept.  22.     Camp  Wheeler,  N.  Y.     Introductory  Discourse,  1st 
Cor.  xvi.  13. 

"      26.     Fast  Day  Discourse,  Micah  vi.  8. 

"      29.     Discourse  on  Necessity  of  Religion,  Psalm  xxvi.  4. 
Oct.      6.  "  Retribution,  Matt.  vi.  16. 

"      13.  "  •  Worth  of  Religion,  Psalm  xciv.  19. 

"20.  "  Christianity  in  Solitude,  with  special  re 

ference  to  its  place  and  power  in  the  homes  we 
were  about  to  leave,  Matt,  xviii.  20. 

"      27.     Discourse  on  The  Care  of  the  Body,  Romans,  xii.  1. 
Nov.  17.     Camp  Morgan,  Md.    Dis.  on  True  Peace,  John  xiv.  27. 

"      17.     Camp  Jackson,  Md.    Discourse  on  Joy  Dependent  on 
Christian  Character,  John  xv.  11. 

"      19.     Camp  Morgan,  Md.     Discourse  at  Funeral  of  II.  W. 
Powers,  2d  Cor.  v.  1-8. 

"      24.     Camp  Rathbone,  Md.     Discourse  on  Desirable  Trea 
sures,  Matt.  vi.  21. 

"      24.     Headquarters  of  Co.  "  A."     Discourse  on  True  Peace, 

John  xiv.  27. 

Dec.     1.     Camp  Rathbone,  Md.     Discourse  on  Reciprocal  Du 
ties,  Romans  xiv.  7. 

"        1.     Headquarters  Co.  "A."     Discourse  on  Preventive  of 
Sin,  Psalm  cxix.  11. 

"        1.     Headquarters  Co.  "  F."    Discourse  on  The  True  Light, 
John  xii.  46., 

"        8.     Camp  Rathbone.     Dis.  on  Deceitful  Words,  Eph.  v.  6. 

«      15.        "  "  "         Worth  of  Man,  Ps.  viii.  4. 

"      15.     Headquarters  Co.  "  E.'*     Discourse  on  Praise  for  Ex 
istence,  Psalm  cxxxix.  14. 

"      18.     Regimental  Hospital.     Discourse  at  Funeral  of  Aaron 
Geer,  John  xiv.  1-18. 

"      19.     Discourse  at  Funeral  of  James  Cavanagh,  Ps.  xc. 

"20.  "  "  Sam'l   P.  Melvin  and   Mor- 

timore  Stevens,  Job  xiv.  1-14. 

"      22.     Camp  Rathbone.     Discourse  on  Mercy  alone  Satisfy 
ing,  Psalm  xc.  14. 

"      22.     Headquarters  Co.  "  D."    Discourse  on  Mercy  our  Sup 
port,  Psalm  xciv.  18. 


STATISTICAL.  217 

1861. 
Dec.   29.     Camp  Rathbone.    Discourse  on   The  Closing  Year, 

Psalm  xc.  12. 
1862. 
Jan.      1.     Regimental  Hospital.     Discourse  at  Funeral  of  H.  C. 

Meacham,  2d  Cor.  iv.  14-18. 

"  2.  Dis.  at  Funeral  of  Lewis  Duprey,  1st  Cor.  xv.  20-28. 
"  5.  Camp  Rathbone.  Dis.  on  Manhood,  1st  Kings  ii.  2. 
"  10.  Headquarters  Co.  "  II."  Discourse  at  Funeral  of  E. 

II.  Porter,  Psalm  xc. 
"      12.     Camp   Rathbone.     Discourse  on   Seductions  of  Sin, 

Prov.  vii.  26. 
"      12.     Headquarters  Co.  "E."   Discourse  on  Power  of  Prayer, 

•  Luke  ix.  29. 

"      19.     Headquarters  Co.  "E.    Dis.  on  Mutual  Help,  Gal.  vi.  2. 
""     26.     Camp  Preston  King.     Discourse  on  Duty  Easily  Dis 
covered,  Deut.  xxx.  14. 

"      26.     Camp  Elliott.     Dis.  on  True  Rest,  Psalm  cxvi.  7. 
"      29.     Regimental  Hospital.     Discourse  at  Funeral  of  0.  E. 

Dunton,  1st  Cor.  xv.  35-49. 

Feb.     2.     Camp  Preston  King.     Discourse  on  Object  of  Revela 
tion,  1st  Tim.  i.  15. 

"        6.     Discourse  at  Funeral  of  E.  Mason,  Job  xiv.  1-14. 
"        9.  "        on  Christianity  Inexhaustible,  1st  Cor.  ii.  9. 

"        9.     Camp  Robinson.     Discourse  on  Harm  of  Obscenity, 

Profanity,  Drunkenness  and  Gambling,  Acts  xvi.  28. 
"      16.     Camp    Preston    King.      Discourse    on    Temptation, 

James  i.  13-15. 

Mar.    2.     Discourse  on  Human  Perfection,  Psalm  xxxvii.  37. 
"        9.     Mrs.  Waltemeyer's.     Discourse  at  Funeral  of  Lieut. 

Eastman,  2d  Cor.  v.  1-8. 
"      23.     Camp   Miles.     Discourse   on   Comfort  of   Belief  in 

Christ.     John  xiv.  1. 
"      30.     Discourse  on  Rejoicing  that  we   are   Subject  to  tho 

Divine  Law,  Psalm  cxix.  54. 
April   6.     Discourse  on  Necessity  of  Watchfulness  and  Prayer, 

Mark  xiv.  38. 
"        6.     Regimental  Hospital.     Discourse  on  Christ  the  True 

and  Living  Way,  John  xiv.  6.  "5 .. '  * 

19 


218  STATISTICAL. 

1862. 

April  13.     Camp  Miles.     Thanksgiving  for  Victories,  2d  Samuel 
x.  12. 

"      13.     Regimental  Hospital.     Exposition  of  Psalm  Ixvii. 

"      20.     Camp  Miles.     Discourse  on  Easter,  Col.  iii.  1. 

"      20.     Regimental  Hospital.     Exposition  of  Matt,  xxviii. 

"      25.     Camp  Michigan.     Discourse  at  Funeral  of  W.  Smith, 
1st  Cor.  xv.  51-57. 

"      27.     Camp  Miles.     Discourse  on  God's  Love  Unchanging, 
Romans  viii.  38,  39. 

"      27.     Regimental  Hospital.     Exposition  of  Ecc.  xii. 
May     4.     Camp  Miles.     Discourse  on  Danger  of  Harming  Our 
selves,  Acts  xvi.  28. 

"        4.     Regimental  Hospital.     Exposition  of  Matt.  v.  1-16. 

"      11.     Camp  Miles.     Discourse  on  Safety  of  the  Obedient, 
Psalm  cxix.  92. 

"      11.     Regimental  Hospital.     Exposition  of  Psalm  xxvii. 

"      18.  .  Camp  Miles.     Discourse  on  the  Goodness  of  God  a 
Reason  for  Effort  and  for  Praise,  Psalm  liv.  6. 

"      18.     Regimental  Hospital.     Exposition  of  Prov.  iii.  13-18. 

"      25.     Camp  Miles.    Discourse  on  The  End  of   National 

Troubles,  Jer.  xlviii.  11-13. 

June     8.     City  Hall  Yard,  Winchester,  Va.     Discourse  on  Trust 
in  God.     Psalm  xxxiv. 

"      15.     Camp  Sigel.     Dis.  on  God  with  the  Right,  Ps.  xxv. 

"      22.     Camp  Tait.    Discourse  on  God  our  Helper,  Ps.  xxi. 

"      30.     Camp  Goodrich.     Discourse  at  Funeral  of  S.  R.  C. 

Thompson,  2d  Cor.  iv.  5-18. 

July  13.     Near  Warrenton,  Va.     Discourse  at  Funeral  of  Abra 
ham  Wells,  Psalm  xc. 

"      23.     Brigade  Burial  Ground,  Washington  C.  II.,  Virginia. 
Dis.  at  Funeral  of  A.  Bromaghim,  John  xiv.  1-14. 

"27.  "  "  J.  Bray  ton  and  V.  Merrihue,  1st 

Cor.  xv.  35-49. 

"      28.  "  "  Lieut.  White,  Psalm  xxiii. 

"      29.  "          -   "  C.  P.  Chaffee,  Psalm  xc. 

"      29.     Village  Burial  Ground,  Washington  C.  H.,  Virginia. 
Dis.  at  Funeral  of  A.  Smithers,  1st  Cor.  xv.  20-28. 

"     30.          "  "  L.  Beyette,  Job  xiv.  1-14. 


STATISTICAL.  219 

1862. 
July  30.     Brigade  Burial  Ground,  Washington  C.  H.,  Virginia. 

Dis.  at  Funeral  of  L.  C.  Harrington,  2d  Cor.  iv. 
Aug.    3.  "  "  J-  Harmer  and  G.  Annis,  1st 

Cor.  xv.  51-57. 

"        4.  "  "  Lieuts.  Clark  and  Hogan,  and 

E.  G.  McKee,  Job  xiv.  1-14; 
xvii.  13-16.    John  xiv.  16-19. 
Rev.  xxi.  3-5. 
"       5.          "  "  J.HandleyandE.Finley,  Psalin 

xxvii. 

6.  "  "  F.  Miller,  2d  Cor.  v. 

"      17.     Warrenton  Springs,  Va.,  Discourse  at  Funeral  of  S. 

Blaisdell,  1st  Peter  i. 

"      19.     Dis.  at  Funeral  of  E.  L.  Wright,  1st  Cor.  xv.  35-49. 
Sept.  21.     Sandy  Hook,  Md.    Sermon  to  Brigade,  1st  Peter  iv.  11. 

"      28.     Lou  don  Heights,  Va.     Exposition  of  Psalm  cxlv. 
Oct.      5.     Discourse  on  Motives  to  Trust  in  God,  Psalm  cxlvi. 
"      19.  "  Power  of  Prayer,  Luke  ix.  29.  . 

"      25.     Harper's  Ferry,  Va.    Discourse  at  Funeral  of  A.  Wai- 
rath,  2d  Cor.  v. 

Nov.     9.     Dis.  on  Foundation  of  Religious  Hope,  Ps.  xlii.  11. 
"      16.       "          Against  Presumption,  1st  Cor.  x.  12. 
"      23.       "          Right  Affections,  Prov.  iv.  23. 
Dec.   14.     Near  Occoquan  River,  Va.     Comment  on  Luke  xxiv. 

13-53. 
"      21.     Camp  near  Fairfax  Station,  Va.     Discourse  on  Love 

Greater  than  All  Else,  1st  Cor.  xiii.  13. 
1863. 

Jan.    11.     Discourse  on  Reward  and  Punishment,  Prov.  xiv.  14. 
"      18.  "  God  our  Help,  Psalm  cxxx.  1. 

"      25.     Camp  near  Stafford  C.  H.,  Va.     Discourse  on  Walking 

by  Faith,  2d  Cor.  v.  7. 

Feb.     1.     Supplication  for  Divine  Guidance,  Psalm  cxliii.  8. 
"        8.    Exposition  of  Matthew  vii. 


220  STATISTICAL. 


BURIAL   GROUNDS 

The  village  of  Washington  Court  House,  Rappahannock 
County,  Va.,  is  located  on  the  Rush  River,  which,  about  half 
a  mile  south  of  the  village,  changes  its  course  from  north  to 
northwest.  Near  this  point,  and  on  the  east  bank  of  the 
stream,  is  a  stone  building,  called  Jelt's  Mill.  Ascending  the 
hill  on  the  west  side  of  the  stream,  and  on  a  line  with  the 
mill,  we  come  to  two  parallel  rows  of  graves;  the  heads  of 
which,  in  both  rows,  are  to  the  north.  The  north  row  con 
tained,  when  we  left,  nineteen  graves,  and  the  south  row  four 
graves.  Possibly  there  have  been  some  additions  since  then, 
as  both  our  own  and  the  rebel  troops  have  frequently  camped 
near  the  place.  I  think  the  following  description  will  enable 
a  visitor  to  find  any  of  our  dead,  whether  others  have  been 
added  or  not. 

There  are  several  locust  trees  growing  on  the  hill,  but  only 
one  of  them  stands  on  a  line  with  the  north  row  of  graves. 
Immediately  at  the  foot  of  this  tree,  lies  the  body  of  Alexan 
der  Bromaghim,  of  Company  "  D."  On  his  left  is  the  body 
of  Valentine  Merihue,  of  Company  "  D,"  and  on  his  left  the 
body  of  Job  Brayton,  of  Company  "  E."  This  completed  the 
extent  of  the  row  to  the  east,  at  the  time  we  left  the  place. 
To  the  right  or  west  of  Bromaghim's  grave,  lies,  first,  an 
unknown  Massachusetts  man,  buried  by  the  78th  New  York ; 
second,  Lieut.  L.  E.  White;  third,  C.  P.  Chaffee,  of  Co. « I ;" 
fourth,  Cor.  L.  C.  Harrington,  of  Co.  "  K ;"  fifth,  John  Har- 
mer,  of  Co.  "D;"  sixth,  M.  McGowan,  of  78th  New  York; 
seventh,  Geo.  Annis,  of  Co.  "  D ;"  eighth,  E.  G.  McKee,  of 
Co.  "  A  ;"  ninth,  Geo.  H.  Long,  of  1st  Dist.  Columbia  Vols.; 
tenth,  Hamilton  Marshall,  of  1st  Dist.  Col.  Vols.;  eleventh, 
John  Buzhard,  of  78th  N.  Y.;» twelfth,  Lieut.  Guy  Hogan; 
thirteenth,  Lieut.  B.  R.  Clark ;  fourteenth,  Edward  Finley, 
of  Co.  «  A ;"  fifteenth,  James  Handley,  of  Co.  "  E  ;"  and 


STATISTICAL.  221 

sixteenth,  George  Campbell,  of  1st  Dist.  Col.  Vols.  This 
completed  the  extent  of  the  row  to  thfe  west.  Lieuts.  Hogan 
and  Clark  were  buried  in  one  grave,  the  coffins  touching  as 
they  lay  side  by  side.  So  also  were  Finley  and  Handley 
buried.  With  these  exceptions,  the  graves  are  single,  and  are 
about  eighteen  inches  apart. 

The  first  grave  at  the  east  end  of  the  south  row,  lies  as  near 
as  possible  against  a  locust  tree,  the  only  tree  of  that  kind 
very  near  that  row.  It  contains  the  body  of  Elisha  Parker, 
of  the  Purnell  Legion ;  the  first,  to  the  west  of  it,  the  body 
of  Denard  Sterling,  of  the  Purnell  Legion ;  second,  Frederick 
Miller,  of  Co.  «  H ;"  third,  Drum-Major  W.  P.  Ellis. 

The  spot  selected  for  a  burial-ground,  while  we  were  at 
Warrenton  Springs,  was  on  the  hill-side,  about  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  west  of  the  spring-house,  in  the  southern  edge  of  a  grove 
of  small  pines.  "We  cleared  a  space  of  12  by  20  feet,  and  the 
graves,  seven  in  number,  are  all  in  one  row,  the  heads  being 
to  the  west.  The  first,  or  most  southerly  grave,  is  that  of 
Ephraim  L.  Wright,  of  Co.  "  G- ;"  the  second,  of  Sanford 
Blaisdell,  Principal  Musician ;  the  third,  of  George  R.  Hies, 
member  of  the  Band ;  the  fourth,  of  George  W.  Daggett,  of 
Co.  «  I ;"  the  fifth,  of  John  Cardinell,  of  Co.  «  D ;"  the  sixth, 
of  Levi  J.  Barton,  of  Co.  "  E ;"  the  seventh,  of  an  unknown 
Massachusetts  volunteer.  The  Band  put  up  a  very  neat 
headboard,  at  the  grave  of  Ries,  but  we  were  obliged  to  leave 
so  hurriedly  that  no  opportunity  was  given  us  to  designate 
any  of  the  others  in  the  same  manner. 


LIST   OF   DEATHS    NOT    MENTIONED    ELSEWHERE    IN    THIS 
BOOK. 

March  15,  1862.     Hiram  W.  Buttles,    Drummer  of  Co. 
"  C,"  died  of  consumption,  at  his  home  in  Brandon,  Vt. 

April.     Stephen  Barlow,  a  new  recruit,  not  assigned  to  any 
company,  died  in  Albany,  N.  Y. 
19*     • 


222  STATISTICAL. 

p 

July  25.  Sylvanus  Heath,  Private,  of  Co.  "  F,"  died  of 
typhus  fever,  at  St.  Pa'ul's  Church  Hospital,  Alexandria,  Va. 

July  26.  George  Rush,  Private,  of  Co.  "K,"  died  at 
camp  formerly  occupied  by  us  near  Relay  House,  Md.,  of 
consumption. 

Aug.  7.  Lyman  P.  Curtis,  Private,  of  Co.  "  I,"  died  at 
Fort  McHenry,  Baltimore,  Md.,  of  consumption. 

Aug.  24.  Timothy  McCarthy,  Private,  of  Co.  « I,"  died 
at  General  Hospital,  Frederick,  Md.,  of  typhus  fever. 

Sept.  1.  Thomas  McCabe,  Private,  of  Co.  «  G,"  died  in 
Hospital  at  "Washington,  D.  C.,  of  typhus  fever. 

Sept.  2. '  David  Morrison,  Private,  of  Co.  "  C,"  died  .at 
Mount  Pleasant  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C.,  of  typhus  fever. 

Sept.  22.  Joseph  Shampine,  Private,  of  Co.  "  I,"  died  in 
Hospital  at  Portsmouth  Grove,  R.  I.,  of  typhus  fever. 

Oct.  12.  De  Elbert  Rounds,  Drummer,  of  Co.  "  B,"  died 
at  Hospital  on  David's  Island,  N.  Y.,  of  typhus  fever. 

Oct.  15.  Eugene  E.  Bolton,  Corporal,  of  Co.  «  B,"  died  at 
Casparis  House  Hospital, Washington,  D.  C.  Disease  unknown. 

Nov.  16.  William  Bruce,  Private,  of  Co.  « II,"  died  at 
Grace  Church  Hospital,  Alexandria,  Va.  Disease  unknown. 

Dec.  19.  George  Lake,  Private,  of  Co.  "  B/'  died  at  Gen 
eral  Hospital,  Philadelphia,  Pa. ,  of  dropsy. 

Dec.  23.  John  Lawton,  Private,  of  Co.-  "D,"  died  at  Gen 
eral  Hospital,  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  of  diarrhoea. 

Dec.  aO.  James  Robinson,  Private,  of  Co.  "  F,"  died  at 
General  Hospital,  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  of  diarrhosa. 

Jan.  3,  1863.  Oliver  P.  Brill,  Private,  of  Co.  "D,"  died 
at  Columbian  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C.,  of  typhus  fever. 

Jan.  4.  Richard  Taylor,  Private,  6f  Co.  "  D,"  died  at  Gen 
eral  Hospital,  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  of  diarrhoea. 

Jan.  "20.  Joseph  Ladeau,  Private,  of  Co.  "  K,"  died  in 
Hospital  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  of  typhus  fever. 

Feb.  11.  Linden  Bissell,  Private,  of  Co.  "A,"  died  at 
Campbell  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C.,  of  pneumonia. 


STATISTICAL.  223 


DESERTIONS. 


Company  "A." 

Name. 

Deserted    from. 

Date. 

Andrew  Carson, 

Camp  Wheeler,  N.  Y., 

1861,  Sept.  29. 

Thomas  Shannahan, 

tt                   tt 

"      28. 

W.  S.  Carpenter, 

Deep  Cut,  Md., 

Nov.  29. 

Albert  Davenport, 

Camp  Miles,  Md., 

1862,  May  5. 

J.  C.  Preston, 

Sulphur  Springs,  Va., 

Aug.  13. 

Henry  Stone, 

tt                  tt 

"     13. 

W.  N.Tilley, 

Fairfax  Station,      " 

1863,  Feb.  3. 

Company  "  B." 

John  Farden, 

Camp  Miles,  Md., 

1862,  April  18. 

W.  Sterling, 

tt              tt 

May  25. 

C.  Sayer, 

Baltimore,  Md., 

July  6. 

Chas.  Oliver, 

ft           n 

«     6. 

A.  Finley, 

it           it 

«     6. 

J.  H.  Cuningham, 

Washington,  D.  C., 

Sept.  24. 

Joseph  Olds, 

Knoxville,  Md., 

Nov.*  18. 

Company  "  C." 

Harvey  McWilliams, 

Camp  Wheeler,  N.  Y. 

1861,  Oct.  20. 

Wm.  Churchill, 

it                tt 

"     21. 

G.  Watson, 

ft                tt 

"     30. 

Edward  Wilson, 

tt                tt 

«     31. 

George  Petrie, 

Camp  Miles,  Md., 

1862,  May  29. 

J  oseph  Petrie, 

it              tt  • 

"     29. 

W.  Rock, 

Sulphur  Springs,  Va., 

Aug.  17. 

J.  White, 

Middletown,  Va., 

Sept.  14. 

Keller  Dygert, 

Antietam,  Md., 

«     1>. 

T.  J.  Duignan, 

Baltimore,  Md., 

Nov.  19. 

Geo.  Clink, 

Harper's  Ferry,  Va., 

Dec.  11. 

224 


Name. 

Geo.  Carpenter, 
J.  McAllaster, 
Jas.  Cole, 
W.  W.  Dawson. 
Philo  Scott, 


STATISTICAL. 
Company  "  D." 

Deserted  froft. 


'  Date. 


Camp  Miles,  Md.  1862,  April  20. 

Washington  C.  H.,  Va.,  July  30. 

Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  Dec.  10. 


«     10. 
«     10. 


Company  "  E 


Peter  Mortimer, 

Camp  Preston  King,  Md., 

1862,  May  14. 

Page  M.  Evans, 

it                     ft                    ft 

June  16. 

Lorenzo  Butterfield, 

(C                     <(                    ft 

«     16. 

A.  Hoyt, 

Camp  Goodrich,  Va., 

July  1. 

Henry  A.  Page, 

Sulphur  Springs,  Va., 

Aug.  11. 

Antoine  Chenevert, 

it                     tt 

«     12. 

John  Place, 

((              it 

"    12 

Oliver  Chase, 

Loudon  Heights,  Va., 

Oct.  24. 

Geo.  Cheeney, 

«               tt 

«    24. 

H.  Sahins, 

a                (t 

"    24. 

W.  C.  Skeels, 

* 

a               (( 

"    24. 

Company  "  F." 

Harrison  Flack, 

Camp  Wheeler,  N.  Y.,    1861,  Oct.  26. 

Francis  Reilley, 

En  Route  to  Washington, 

D.C.,  Nov.  1. 

J.  Flannigan, 

Camp  Goodrich,  Va., 

1862,  July  5. 

H.  Flannigan, 

"             " 

"     5. 

J.  Kennedy, 

Washington  C.  H.,  Va., 

"  11. 

A.  Durham, 

«               a 

u  11 

Jno.  Flannigan, 

Rockville,  Md., 

Sept.  10. 

Wm.  Gordon, 

Philadelphia,  Pa., 

Dec.  15. 

Wm.  Cleland, 

Annapolis  Md., 

1863,  Jan.  2. 

Henry  Heath, 

«          a 

tt    2. 

STATISTICAL. 


225 


Company  "  0." 

Name. 

Deserted  from.                                             Datp. 

Horace  Hickey, 

Annapolis  Junction,  Md.,  1862,  May  24. 

Jas.  T.  Merrys, 

t(                it                          u   29. 

Gardener  How, 

«                tt                          tt    29. 

J.  Barnard, 

Washington  C.  H.,  Va.,  '          July  29. 

C.  Burzee, 

«            «                           tt     29. 

R.  McNainara, 

Frederick,  Md.,                         Sept.  10. 

Company  "  H." 

Jno.  H.  Ingram, 

Camp  Miles,  Md.,          1862,  April  18. 

W.  H.  Finch, 

'  "        "                                    "     18. 

David  Lavanway, 

tt        <t                                   K    24. 

W.  La  Fountain, 

London  Heights,  Va.,                Oct.  24. 

M.  Dencore, 

tt            tt                                a    24. 

A.  Lablue, 

tt           it                               tt    24. 

C.  Oriel, 

tt           tt                               tt    24. 

B.  Trusdell, 

tt           tt                               tt    24. 

~  Company  "  L" 

Geo.  Wilbur, 

Baltimore,  Md.,              1862,  April  22. 

Edwin  Eldridge, 

"           "                             May  24. 

Wm.  Morgan, 

Washington,  D.  C.,                   Aug.  12. 

N.  P.  Chase, 

Pleasant  Valley,  Md.,                 Sept.  2. 

W.  Knowlton, 

a             tt                                   u      2 

M.  Quagin, 

tt            it                                  ti      2 

Richard  Pettis, 

Bellow's  Island  Hospital,  N.Y.,  Nov.  20. 

Myron  Ward, 

Camp  Chase,  Ohio,            1863,  Feb.  2. 

Company  "  K." 

Jared  Austin, 

Annapolis  Junction,  Md.,  1862,  May  12. 

Oren  White, 

Srnithfield,  Va.,                           June  5. 

F.  Duffy, 

Antietam  Md.,                           Sept.  17. 

F.  S.  Page, 

Loudon  Heights,  Va.,               Nov.  22. 

F.  Catura, 

Washington,  D.  C.,                      "      30. 

I.  Currier, 

"               "                          "      30. 

Jno.  0.  Sullivan, 

"              "                      Dec.  20. 

226 


STATISTICAL. 


These  names  were  obtained  by  me  from  the  Muster  Rolls, 
sent  by  the  Regimental  Adjutant  to  the  Adjutant-General's 
Office,  in  Washington.  I  am  informed  that  some  of  the  men 
have  returned  to  duty,  and  possibly  the  list  may  now  be  im 
perfect  from  other  causes ;  but  as  it  is  not  possible  for  me  to 
know  the  facts  in  each  individual  case,  I  must  assume  that 
the  record  was  correct  at  the  time  I  had  access  to  the  Rolls. 
That  it  was  true  then,  no  one,  I  think,  can  deny;  but  if  in 
error  at  that  time,  I  will  cheerfully,  on  proof,  make  all  ne 
cessary  corrections,  should  another  edition  of  this  book  be 
called  for. 


DISHONORABLY   DISCHARGED. 
Company  "  D." 

Name.  Discharged  from.  Date. 

Nicholas  Hoffman,       Camp  Preston  King,  Md.,  1862;  Feb.  26. 

Company  "  E." 
William  Morehead,      Camp  Preston  King,  Md.,  "     26. 

-  Company  "  K." 
Washington  Liskum,  Camp  Preston  King,  Md.;  "     26. 


HONORABLY   DISCHARGED. 

Sand* 
M.  M.  Follett,  Camp  Rathbone,  Md.,     1861,  Dec.  11. 

Company  "A." 

S.  W.  Smith,  Camp  Miles,  1862,  May  26 

W.  N.  Olin,  York,  Pa, 

W.  M.  Brooks,  Fort  McHenry,  Md., 

J.  T.  Daily,  Harper's  Ferry,  Va., 

*  The  surviving  members  of  the  Band  were  honorably  dis 
charged  in  September,  18G2,  by  Act  of  Congress  of  Jqly,  1862. 


Sept.  27. 

Oct.  17. 

«     23. 


STATISTICAL. 


227 


Name. 

J.  McMonegal, 
Lewis  McCuen, 
C.  C.  Abel, 
W.  0.  Taplin, 
C.  C.  F.  Chamberlain, 
Henry  R.  Byrom, 
Stephen  Aldous, 
Abram  Fisk, 
John  S.  Worden, 
Michael  White, 
Henry  F.  Tanner, 
Peter  Bruseau, 
Ira  B.  Whitford, 


Discharged  from. 

Harper's  Ferry,  Va., 
Fort  McHenry,  Md., 

Harper's  Ferry,  Va., 

u  a 

Philadelphia,  Pa., 
Harper's  Ferry,  Va., 
Baltimore,  Md., 
Washington,  D.  C., 
Philadelphia,  Pa., 
Baltimore,  Md., 
Fairfax  Station,  Va., 
Alexandria,  Va., 
Philadelphia,  Pa., 


1863, 


Oct.  24. 
Nov.  3. 

"     21. 

"     21. 

tf  24 
Dec.  4 

"       9. 

«     20. 

«  24. 
Jan.  10. 

«  13. 
Feb.  9. 

«     12. 


Company  "  B." 

James  C.  Raven, 

Baltimore,  Md., 

1862,  March  13. 

Willfur  Sterling, 

Camp  Miles, 

May  25. 

D.  Peters, 

a            it 

«     26. 

J.  F.  Daniels, 

Philadelphia,  Pa., 

Sept.  19. 

S.  Daily, 

Harper's  Ferry,  Va., 

Oct.   21. 

C.  Sisson, 

11                     U 

"     24. 

P.  Valley, 

«               «. 

«     24. 

M.  R.  Delong, 

Washington,  D.  C., 

"     25. 

J.  Wright, 

« 

"     25. 

N.  Charter, 

« 

"     28. 

J.  Aylward, 

ft 

Nov.  24. 

Noel  M.  Conger, 

Philadelphia,  Pa., 

1868,  Jan.  17. 

John  Sherwin, 

Fairfax  Station,  Va., 

«     19. 

Jacob  M.  Roberts, 

((               •      U 

"     19. 

Alfred  Corbett, 

Philadelphia,  Pa., 

Feb.  4. 

Company  "C." 

Elisha  Nettleton, 

Camp  Wheeler,  N.  Y, 

,,     1861,  Oct.  25. 

Joseph  Pickert, 

Baltimore,  Md., 

1862,  Feb.  28. 

J.  Willis, 

Camp  Miles,  Md., 

May  29. 

228 


STATISTICAL. 


Name. 

Jos.  Laiser, 
Michael  St.  James, 
C.  J.  Harder, 
N.  Gates, 
0.  Scliuyler, 
C.  Clark, 

John  F.  Robinson, 
Thos.  Phillips, 
J.  Glazier, 

C.  O'Neil, 
B.  Austin, 

D.  Brien, 

B.  F.  Warner, 
Martin  D.  Collins, 
Walter  E.  Collins, 
Chauncey  Neil, 
James  Yerden, 
James  Lewis, 
Fred.  M.  Fitch, 
Solomon  H.  Yerden, 
Harrison  Mitchell, 
Marcus  Petrie, 
George  W.  Hill, 
Norman  Hyde, 
Francis  C.  Lewis, 
Lewis  J.  Knox, 
S.  J.  Lamphear, 
Chas.  Brewster, 

Albert  West, 
S.  C.  F.  Norman, 
Gordon  Manchester, 
Ezra  Ferguson, 
G.  S.  Lawson, 


Discharged  from. 

Camp  Miles,  Md., 
tt  tt 

Washington,  D.  C., 

tt 
it 

Harper's  Ferry,  Va., 
Baltimore,  Md., 
York,  Pa., 

Harper's  Ferry,  Va., 
tt  tt 

tt  tt 

Baltimore,  Md., 
Harper's  Ferry,  Va., 
Philadelphia,  Pa., 
tt 

York,  Pa., 

Portsmouth  Grove,  R. 
tt  tt 

Philadelphia,  Pa., 

tt 

Baltimore,  Md., 
Fairfax  Station,  Ya:, 
Providence,  R.  I., 
Harper's  Ferry,  Va., 

Baltimore,  Md., 
tt 

Harper's  Ferry,  Va., 

Company  "D." 
Baltimore,  Md. 


Camp  Miles,  Md., 

a,  tt 


Date. 

May  29. 

«  29. 
Sept.  2. 

"       2. 

u  2. 
Oct.  18. 
Nov.  5. 

«     18. 

"     19. 

«     19. 

«     19. 

«     21. 

«     24. 

"     29. 

«  29. 
De<;.  5. 

"  15. 
,  «  23. 

"  23. 
1863,  Jan.  5. 

c<f-    10. 

u  "'17. 

«    18. 

«  20. 
"  22. 
«  30. 
«  30. 
Feb.  19. 

1862,  Jan.  11. 

May  15. 

«     15. 

;-^^«     25. 
"     26. 


STATISTICAL. 


229 


Name. 

J.  K.  Gray, 

C.  Noble, 

D.  B.  Wetherell, 
Constant  Wells, 
S.  J.  Titus, 

M.  Lawrence, 
Luke  Gleason, 
Thos.  Ivers, 
Isaac  Cramer, 
Noah  Carpenter, 
Asa  G.  Morgan, 
George  Safford, 

L.  Fellows, 
B.  Wolohon, 
James  Herichy, 
H.  F.  Canfield, 
L.  E.  Benware, 
Thos.  Mulholland, 
H.  J.  Hathaway, 
J.  N.  Ferris, 

E.  A.  Thompson, 
B.  Hinnman, 

O.  Prarie, 
H.  Place, 
M.  Maher, 
Oliver  Curtis, 
L.  Greno, 
J.  Riley, 
P.  Maher, 
E.  Faro, 
P.  M.  Evans, 
M.  Dailey, 
Allen  Briggs, 


Discharged  from. 

Philadelphia,  Pa., 
Fort  Wood,  N.  Y., 
Philadelphia,  Pa., 
Newark,  N.  J., 
Fort  McHenry,  Md., 
Baltimore,  Md., 
Providence,  R.  I., 
Fairfax  Station,  Va., 

Harper's  Ferry,  Va., 

it  a 

Baltimore,  Md., 
Washington*;  D.  C., 

Company  "E." 
Camp  Preston  King,  Md 


Fort  McHenry,  Md., 
Frederick,  Md., 
David's  Island' N.  Y., 

it  tt 

Fort  Wood,  N.  Y., 
Loudon  Heights,  Ya., 


New  York  City, 
Loudon  Heights,  Va., 


tt  '           tt 

It  tt 

tt  tt 

tt  tt 


Washington,  D.  C., 
Newark,  N.  J., 


Date. 

Sept.  24. 
Oct.  T! 

"     24. 

«  30. 
Nov.  2. 

«       6. 

Dec.     1. 

1863,  Jan.  18. 

"     23. 

"     23. 

«     25. 

«     31. 

.,1862,  May  25. 

"  25. 

"  25. 

"  25. 
Aug.  15. 

«  28. 

'  "  28. 

Sept.  5. 

Oct.  17. 

0  «  18. 

«  18. 

«  18. 

«  18. 

"  20. 

"  21. 

"  21. 

«  21. 

"  21. 

"  21. 

"  27. 

«  30. 


230 


STATISTICAL. 


Name. 

Discharged  from. 

Date. 

T.  Burns, 

Baltimore,  Md., 

Nov.  17. 

J.  M.  Cole, 

a             ft 

«     17. 

W.  Eastabrooks, 

Harper's  Ferry,  Va., 

"     24. 

L.  S.  Gage, 

a             a 

«     24. 

John  Annette, 

Frederick,  Md., 

1863,  Jan.  12. 

L.  L.  Lee,- 

Fairfax  Station,  Va., 

"     18. 

Fayette  Graves, 

it                     it 

«     18. 

James  M.  Berry, 

Central  Park,  N.  Y., 

«     24. 

Leonard  Clark, 

Philadelphia,  Pa., 

Feb.    5. 

Gilbert  St.  Antoine, 

Harper's  Ferry,  Va., 

«     19. 

Company  "F." 

W.  McDonald, 

Baltimore,  Md., 

1862,  March  11. 

John  Grimshaw, 

Washington,  D.  C., 

Aug.  25. 

J.  Wardell, 

Fort  McHenry,  Md., 

Oct.     6. 

J.  Radican, 

Washington,  D.  C., 

"     12. 

J.  Beyette, 

Harper's  Ferry,  Va., 

"     23. 

J.  Bezett, 

tt             it 

"     23. 

A.  Harvey, 

it             tt 

"     23. 

J.  Adams, 

tt             tt    . 

«     23. 

P.  Mahoney, 

it             it 

"     23. 

G.  Cleland, 

tt             tt 

"     23. 

E.  Thayer, 

tt             tt 

"     25. 

H.  Danie*, 

tt             tt 

Nov.  21. 

H.  Stevens, 

tt             .( 

"     21. 

J.  Keyse, 

tt             .1 

"     21. 

M.  Leonard, 

ft             tt 

"     26. 

Moses  Head, 

Philadelphia,  Pa., 

1863,  Jan.    5. 

Thomas  Chambers, 

Harper's  Ferry,  Va., 

"     10. 

Henry  Thompson, 

a             tt 

Feb.    3. 

David  G.  Giffin, 

Alexandria,  Va., 

«     17. 

Company  "G." 

L.  Rusaw, 

Camp  Michigan/  Md., 

1862,  Mar.  16. 

L.  Gardiner, 

Baltimore,  Md., 

Apr.  24. 

STATISTICAL. 


231 


Name. 

Discharged  from. 

**        Date. 

B.  F.  Taylor, 

Baltimore,  Md., 

July  17. 

J.  Bromley, 

a 

Oct.     6. 

L.  B.  Wilson, 

u 

"    14. 

A.  Wilson, 

Harper's  Ferry,  Ya., 

19. 

W.  Gates, 

Baltimore,  Md., 

"    22. 

J.  Arney, 

a             ft 

"    23. 

A.  Curry, 

Harper's  Ferry,  Ya., 

Nov.  21. 

A.  Royce, 

tt             u 

«     21. 

N.  Darsee, 

((                  U 

«     21. 

S.  R,  Bird, 

Providence,  R.  I., 

Dec.  4. 

Jno.  Farley, 

a             it 

«     4. 

C.  D.  Ries, 

tt             tt 

«  24. 

Jas.  S.  Miller, 

Philadelphia,  Pa., 

1863,  Jan.  7. 

Hugh  Turner, 

York, 

«  10. 

Jno.  Johnson, 

Fairfax  Station,  Ya., 

«  18. 

Company  "  H." 

S.  Passeno, 

Baltimore,  Md., 

1861,  Dec.  10. 

Harmon  Wilson, 

«           tt 

«     11. 

J.  McAvoy, 

Harper's  Ferry,  Ya., 

1862,  Sept.  17. 

G.  Monnette, 

Washington,  D.  C., 

Oct.  17. 

J.  H.  Wisher, 

Harper's  Ferry,  Ya., 

"    23. 

T.  Barcomb, 

Washington,  D.  C., 

"    28. 

A.'  Wilson, 

Fort  McHenry,  Md., 

Nov.    5. 

W.  T.  Masury, 

Baltimore, 

Dec.    9. 

G.  W.  Masury, 

n 

«    10. 

A.  W.  Guinnup, 

Providence,  R.  I., 

Jan.    9. 

A.  A.  Guinnup, 

tt              tt 

«     9. 

Jas.  Megin, 

Alexandria,  Ya., 

Feb.  13. 

Company  "  L" 

Thomas  Dawson, 

Baltimore,  Md., 

1862,  Jan.  31. 

C.  B.  Ward, 

Camp  Preston  King, 

Ya.,           May  25. 

E.  A  Kent, 

tt           n           tt 

"    25. 

C.  Kirby, 

tt           tt           tt 

«    25. 

232 


STATISTICAL. 


Name. 

K.  Tyner, 

H.  Whitman, 

A.  Blaisdell, 

K.  Fiske, 

E.  Curtis, 

D.  McDonald, 

J.  A.  Barnes, 

Jno.  Sweeney, 

W.  McCauslin, 

W.  H.  Curtis, 

N.  Peck, 

J.  Harvey, 

J.  Sterns, 

W.  Humphrey, 

Jno.  Shampine, 

A.  Lament, 

Cyrus  Pease, 

Wash'gton  Meacham, 

Chas.  Sanford, 

Nelson  Pease, 

Chas.  B.  Cutler, 

Jos.  De  Cair, 


Discharged  from. 

Baltimore,  Md., 
Harper's  Ferry,  Va., 


Washington,  D.  C., 
Harper's  Ferry,  Va., 
Fort  McHenry,  Md., 
Loudon  Heights,  Va., 


Bedloe's  Island,  N.  Y., 
Washington,  D.  C., 
«  a 

Fort  McHenry,  Md., 

a  a 

David's  Island,  N.  Y., 
Chester,  Pa., 
Philadelphia, 
Washington,  D.  C., 
Harper's  Ferry,  Va., 
K  a 

Philadelphia,  Pa., 


Date. 

May  25. 
July  15. 

«     15. 

«     15. 

Aug.  18. 

Sept.  24. 

Oct.  23. 

"     24. 

«     24. 

«     24. 

«     28. 

«  30. 
Nov.  12. 

«     17. 

«     17. 

"  20. 
Dec.  12. 

a  12. 

1863,  Jan.  9. 
Feb.  1. 

«       9. 

"     22. 


Ebenezer  Peck, 
A.  F.  Steemberge, 
Alex.  Miller, 
Lester  Mason, 
Lewis  Potter, 
Levi  Crawford, 
a.  W.  Ellis, 
H.  Sheldon, 
G.  W.  Whiting. 
J.  Preston, 


Company  "  K." 

Camp  Preston  King,  Md.,  1862,  Mar.  15. 
"        "          "  "     15. 

«          (i  «  t(     15 

«      Miles,  May  26. 

June  16. 
Aug.  20. 
Sept.  12. 
"     24. 
"     29. 
Oct.    6. 


Baltimore,  Md., 
(i 

Washington,  D.  C., 
Newport  News,  Va., 
Fortress  Monroe, 


STATISTICAL.  *                              233 

Name.  Discharged  from.  Date. 

E.  H.  Daily,  Harper's  Ferry,  Oct.  22. 

J.  C.  Gonlin,  "           "  Nov.  24. 

G.  W.  Wheelock,  »         "          "  "    24. 

O.  G.  Cleflin,  "          «  «    24. 

B.  E.  Daniels,  «          "  «    24. 

S.  S,  Hicks,  «          «  "    24. 

J.  S.  Forward,  «          .«  "    24. 

M.  Bullis,  "          "  "    24. 

Elihu  Blanchard,  Providence,  R.  I.,  1863;  Jan.    2. 

Robert  Bond,  Fairfax  Station,  Va.,  "     18. 


OFFICERS    HONORABLY  DISCHARGED. 

Dates  of  final  settlement  unknown ;    but  the  resignations 
were  in  the  following  order:  t 

Colonel  William  B.  Hay  ward 
2d  Lieut.  Lyman  M.  Shedd. 
"       "       Milton  F.  Spencer. 
Captain  David  Day,  2d. 
Lieut.-Col.  Charles  R.  Brundage. 
1st  Lieut.  James  M.  King. 
2d.      «      George  M.  Gleason. 
2d.      «     Charles  H.  Dickenson. 
Major  Abel  Godard. 
Surgeon  James  S.  Gale. 
Captain  John  Snyder. 

«         William  H.  Hyde. 
1st  Lieut.  James  Hurst. 
2d      "-      Langdon  Clark. 
Captain  James  M.  Ransom. 

"      William  Montgomery.  - 
1st  Lieut.  Norris  M.  Dickinson. 
Chaplain  Richard  Eddy. 
20* 


234 


STATISTICAL. 


SUMMARY  OF  LOSSES  UP  TO  FEB.  20TH,  1863. 


•• 

-  | 

Dishonorably 
discharged. 

Honorably  dis 
charged. 

I 

, 

Officers     ... 

17 

6 

23 

Band  

18 

2 

20 

Company  A         . 

,  7 

17 

6 

30 

B  

7 

15 

3 

25 

c  

11 

31 

6 

48 

D  

5 

1 

17 

13 

36 

E  

11 

1 

31 

5 

48 

F  .  .. 

10 

19 

10 

39 

G  

6 

17 

2 

25 

H  
I  

8 

8 

12 
26 

6 
9 

26 
43 

K  .  .. 

7 

1 

20 

9 

37 

Unassigned  

1 

1 

80 

3 

240 

78 

401 

STRENGTH  OF  REGIMENT,  FEBRUARY  20TH,  1863. 

Colonel,  Abel  Godard.  [Commissioned  Dec.  30th,  1862, 
but  not  mustered  into  service  nor  reported  for  duty.] 

Lieutenant-Colonel,  John  C.  O.  Redington. 

Major,  Winslow  M.  Thomas. 

Quartermaster,  Edwin  A.  Merritt. 

First  Assistant-Surgeon,  William  B.  Chambers. 

Second  Assistant-Surgeon,  Charles  H.  Burbeck. 

Sergeant-Major,  Henry  Farrell. 

Quartermaster-Sergeant,  Byron  T.  Bordwell. 

Commissary-Sergeant,  Lyman  Barber. 

Hospital  Steward,  George  G.  Cornish. 

Captains,  James  Young,  V.  N.  Carter,  Thos.  Elliott,  Hugh 
Smith,  Jesse  II.  Jones,  A.  B.  Shipman.  v-' 


STATISTICAL.  235 

First  Lieutenants,  Thomas  Hobart,  P.  S.  Sinclair,  John 
Delany,  0.  Foot,  D.  M.  Robertson,  E.  A.  Rich,  M.  L.  Fitch. 

Second  Lieutenants,  C.  H.  Houghton,  Gr.  M.  Eastman,  S. 
Adams,  M.  Nolan,  J.  Dundon,  J.  E.  Kelsey,  J.  Ingram. 

Officers  detached — Lieutenants  Greene  and  Diven. 

Aggregate  strength  of  the  Regimentj  including  Officers 

and  Non-Commissioned  Staff, 589 

Total,  present  for  duty,        ......     347 

Absent,  (detailed,  deserted  or  in  hospital,)  .         .         .     242 


236  CHANCELLORSVILLE  AND   GETTYSBURG. 


XVII. 
CHANCELLORSVILLE  AND  GETTYSBURG. 

"WISHING  a  more  full  and  reliable  account  of  the  subse 
quent  movements  and  vicissitudes  of  the  regiment  than  I 
could  obtain  from  mere  reports  in  newspaper  paragraphs,  I 
wrote  to  Quartermaster  Merritt  to  furnish  me  with  the  neces 
sary  data,  and  his  response  I  publish  as  received,  believing  it 
more  acceptable  in  this  form  than  if  I  should  attempt  to  glean 
from  it : 

DEAR  CHAPLAIN  : 

In  compliance  with  your  wishes,  I  have  collected  some  facts 
and  incidents  pertaining  to  the  60th  Regiment,  N.  Y.  S.  Vols., 
besides  those  which  came  under  my  own  observation,  from  the 
time  of  your  leaving,  up  to  the  31st  of  August,  1863.  I  am 
largely  indebted  to  Adjutant  Lester  S.  Willson,  and  Commis 
sary-Sergeant  E.  R.  Follett,  for  many  facts  and  incidents, 
especially  during  the  march  to  and  at  the  battle  of  Chancel- 
lorsville.  Although  not  in  any  official  form,  and  principally 
from  recollection  after  the  battle,  I  am  satisfied  they  are 
mainly  correct. 

The  general  good  fealing  and  sympathy  existing  between 
yourself  and  the  regiment,  made  your  loss  to  us  a  sore  disap 
pointment.  Expressions  of  regret  at  your  absence  were  gene 
ral  among  the  men  as  well  as  officers.  "VVe  had  mutually 
borne  the  hardships  and  sufferings  of  active  service  in  the 
field  during  the  storms  and  exposures  of  winter,  as  well  as 
the  heat  of  summer,  and  the  sickness  of  the  spring  and 


CHANCELLORSVTLLE  AND  GETTYSBURG.       237 

autumn.  You  had  comforted  the  sick  by  watchfulness  and 
care,  and  administered  to  the  dying  the  consolations  of  religion. 
You  had  stimulated  the  men  by  conversations  and  eloquence  to 
patient  endurance  of  the  hardships  and  fatigues  of  a  soldier's 
life,  for  the  grand  and  patriotic  purpose  of  putting  down  this 
unnatural  rebellion ;  and  also  by  your  example  in  sharing  with 
them  the  hardships  which  you  asked  them  to  endure  with 
patience.  Do  not  wonder  then  that  we  missed  you,  when  we 
called  to  remembrance  the  last  summer's  campaign — from 
Baltimore,  by  Harper's  Ferry,  up  the  Shenandoah  Valley; 
thence  to  Little  Washington,  Warrenton,  Sulphur  Springs, 
Pope's  Ketreat,  the  battle  of  Antietam,  the  occupation  of 
Loudon  Heights ;  the  subsequent  march  in  the  winter  to  Dum 
fries  ;  back  to  Fairfax  j  thence  to  Stafford  Court  House,  and 
finally,  to  Acquia  Creek — and  earnestly  desired  your  return. 

We  felt,  however,  that,  though  absent,  you  still  remembered 
us,  and  prayed  for  our  welfare,  as  well  as  for  the  succe'ss  of  the 
cause  for  which  we  were  sacrificing  and  enduring  so  much. 
We  now  rely  upon  you  still  as  a  friend,  and  that  you  will,  by 
your  voice,  on  all  proper  occasions,  sustain  us  and  the  Gov 
ernment  we  all  so  dearly  love.  The  people,  our  friends  at 
home,  need  encouragement,  as  well  as  the  army  in  the  field. 
Stimulate  them  to  do  their  duty  despite  cold-blooded  patriots 
and  rebel  sympathizers ! 

We  remained  at  our  old  camp,  at  Acquia  Creek,  until  the 
27th  of  April,  doing  guard  duty  most  of  the  time  at  the  land 
ing  and  on  the  railroad  toward  Falmouth. 

On  the  10th,  the  regiment  was  marched  with  the  Division 
to  Stafford  Court  House,  where  the  12th  Corps  ^/  .s  reviewed 
by  the  President  and  General  Hooker.  Although  it  was  a 
long  march  up  and  back  in  one  day,  everything  passed  off  well. 
After  returning,  and  on  the  same  day,  a  general  muster  took 
place,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  number  of  absentees, 
whether  on  detached  service,  in  hospital,  or  deserted,  to  be 
reported  to  the  Provost  Marshal  General. 


238  CHANCELLORSVILLE    AND    GETTYSBURG. 

You  left  us  just  in  time  to  avoid  the  severest  snow  storm  of 
the  season ;  both  men  and  animals  suffered  severely,  and  the 
bad  weather  continued  for  considerable  time,  making  the  roads 
almost  impassable.  Nothing  of  especial  interest  occurred  out 
side  of  the  routine  of  camp  duty,  made  as  disagreeable  as 
possible,  however,  by  our  musical  and  fanciful  commander. 
At  length  the  weather  changed,  the  roads  improved,  and  then 
came  the  notes  of  preparation  for  a  campaign.  Orders  were 
issued  to  furnish  the  troops  with  eight  days'  marching  rations, 
which  consisted  of  hard  bread,  coffee,  sugar  and  salt,  and 
beef  to  be  driven  on  the  hoof.  All  surplus  baggage  was  to 
be  sent  to  the  rear.  Under  this  order,  all  the  extra  clothing, 
in  fact,  all  except  one  suit,  was  packed  and  sent  to  Washing 
ton  to  be  stored. 

A  thorough  medical  inspection  was  made,  and  all  those  un 
able  to  endure  the  severest  fatigues  and  carry,  in  addition  to 
their  usual  load,  eight  days'  rations,  were  ordered  to  the  Corps 
Hospital,  established  near  General  Geary's  Headquarters; 
and,  on  the  27th  of  April,  at  6  o'clock  in  the  morning,  we 
took  up  our  line  of  march  in  the  direction  of  Stafford  Court 
House. 

The  men  were  in  fine  condition  and  excellent  spirits,  for 
they  believed  that  the  General  would  lead  them  to  victory. 
They  liked  his  spirit,  and  their  confidence  in,  and  enthusiasm 
for,  "  fighting  Joe  Hooker/'  was  all  that  any  ambitious  com 
mander  could  desire. 

We  believed  that  the  plans  (whatever  they  were)  which  we 
were  about  to  execute  would  be  successful,  and  thus  tend  ma 
terially  to  crush  the  rebellion,  and  end  the  war.  No  wonder, 
then,  that  on  this  beautiful  morning,  we  left  our  old  camp,  in 
which  we  had  passed  the  most  disagreeable  part  of  the  winter, 
with  feelings  of  joy ;  and  with  soldierly  tread,  at  the  sound 
of  the  bugle,  fell  into  line  with  the  expectation  that  we  should 
not  return  to  our  old  camp  again  until  Richmond  should  be 


CHANCELLORSVILLE    AND    GETTYSBURG.  239 

in  our  possession.  "We  felt  conscious  that  we  should  meet  the 
rebel  hosts,  but  at  what  precise  point,  no  one  could  tell. 

Our  Division,  commanded  by  General  John  W.  Geary, 
passed  Stafford  Court  House  about  noon;  the  1st  Division 
having  preceded  us.  At  1  o'clock,  we  halted  for  dinner,  and 
word  was  passed  along  the  line  that  if  officers  wanted  anything 
that  had  been  placed  in  the  wagon  train,  they  must  get  it,  as 
the  wagons  would  not  be  allowed  to  proceed  beyond  the  Court 
House.  W'e  then  proceeded  on  our  march  until  clark,  making 
some  fifteen  miles  that  day.  We  encamped  in  the  woods,  and 
preserved  the  utmost  quiet;  no  beating  of  drums  or  sounding 
of  bugles  was  allowed. 

April  28th.  Broke  camp  soon  after  daylight,  and  before 
sunrise  the  whole  column  \vas  moving,  and  at  noon  we  arrived 
at  Harwood  Church,  when  we  discovered  two  other  Corps 
moving  in  the  same  general  direction  by  other  roads.  Troops 
could  be  seen  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach.  This  increased 
our  confidence.  We  continued  our  march  until  dark  in  the 
direction  of  Kelley's  Ford,  on  the  Rappahannock,  where  we 
halted  and  bivouacked  for  the  night  in  a  piece  of  woods  near 
the  road,  and  preserved  the  utmost  quiet.  We  were  near  the 
river,  and  the  rebels  were  supposed  to  be  on  the  opposite  side. 
The  roads  this  day  were  in  fine  condition,  and  we  were  there 
fore  enabled  to  make  an  advance  of  twenty  miles.  Although 
our  men  were  very  tired,  they  did  not  straggle  or  lose  the 
buoyancy  of  spirits  with  which  they  started.  We  passed  but 
few  houses.  Although  it  seems  to  be  a  fine  country,  very  few 
people  were  seen.  The.  curse  of  "the  peculiar  institution" 
has  been  heavily  laid  on  this  part  of  the  land.  A  large  mail 
was  received  by  us  at  this  time,  with  great  satisfaction.  Words 
of  comfort  and  cheer  from  home,  sympathy  with  us  in  hard 
ships  and  struggles,  prayers  for  our  welfare  and  safe  return, 
after  our  noble  mission  shall  have  been  performed,  make  us 
feel  strong  in  our  purpose,  and  encourage  us  to  heroic  sacri 
fices  for  our  country.  Mingled  with  that  night's  dreams  were 


240  CHANCELLORSVILLE    AND    GETTYSBURG. 

visions  of  home  and  loved  ones  surrounding  those  firesides 
which  many  of  us  shall  never  again  behold. 

A  heavy  picket  was  thrown  out  that  night,  in  view  of  our 
near  approach  to  the  enemy,  and  the  remainder  of  the  troops 
lay  down  and  slept  quietly  until  daylight,  when  we  were  again 
summoned  to  be  in  readiness  to  move.  Loge  had  prepared 
breakfast  in  time,  so  that  everything  could  be  in  readiness ; 
as  experience  had  taught  him  that  unless  he  got  his  "  IwttT 
packed  in  time  to  start  with  the  regiment,  it  was  rather  diffi 
cult  to  overtake  them;  and  beside  he  was  subject  to  all  the 
jeers  of  the  soldiers  as  he  passed  them.  He  had  got  things 
packed  except  the  tent  and  blankets,  but,  as  the  latter  made 
a  good  seat,  the  Colonel  hated  to  give  them  up,  until  he  was 
obliged !  Therefore,  to  hasten  matters,  as  the  Colonel  re 
mained  immovable,  he  put  his  spurs  into  one  of  the  many 
drawers  of  the  "  hotel,"  that  the  Colonel  might  be  able  to 
mount  his  horse  without  stopping  for  anything. 

The  order  came,  the  Colonel  arose,  and  thought  he  would 
stop,  at  all  hazards,  and  put  on  his  spurs ;  but,  behold  !  they 
could  not  be  found ;  he  dropped  on  his  knees,  ordered  the 
Doctors  and  Loge  to  help  him  find  them ;  and,  as  they  always 
obey  orders,  and  were  also-very  anxious  that  the  spurs  should 
be  found,  they  commenced  searching  with  a  determination 
which,  it  would  seem,  could  not  fail.  Leaves  were  turned 
over,  and  brush  thrown  in  every  direction,  but  to  no  purpose ; 
they  were  evidently  lost,  or  some  one  without  the  least  spark 
of  conscience  had  stolen  them.  After  stopping  as  long  as 
was  expedient,  to  keep  in  the  good  graces  of  Brigade  com 
manders,  (for,  as  you  know,  he  is  very  anxious  to  be  a  favorite 
there,)  he  mounted  his  horse  with  a  very  long  and  ministerial 
face,  probably  uttering  silent  prayers  for  the  wretch  who  had 
stolen  his  spurs ! 

Finally,  the  Doctors  and  Loge  came  up  with  the  regiment, 
and,  as  we  were  at  a  halt,  Loge  approached  the  Colonefj  and, 
casting  up  a  sly  look  from  under  his  vizor,  exclaimed,  "  Co- 


CHANCELLORSVILLE    AND    GETTYSBURG.  241 

no-nel,  I  f'oun'  your  spurs  !"  What  a  change  of  countenance  ! 
the  ministerial  face  at  once  became  o'erspread  with  smiles, 
and  happiness  seemed  to  reign  supreme.  He  showered  down 
on  the  head  of  our  friend  Loge  a  profusion  of  thanks,  who 
acknowledged  them,  and  respectfully  retired  soliloquizing, 
that  to  be  happy  in  this  world,  one  must  help  those  who  are 
in  trouble ! 

We  arrived  at  the  heights,  near  Kelley's  Ford,  about  sun 
rise  5  part  of  the  llth  Corps  had  laid  a  pontoon  bridge  the 
night  previous,  and  crossed  the  river.  Artillery  had  been 
placed  in  position  to  protect  the  laborers,  and  as  the  mere 
sight  of  cannon  was  enough  for  the  small  force  of  rebs.  that 
were  posted  there,  we  crossed  with  little  or  no  resistance. 
The  artillery  was  still  kept  in  position  ready  for  any  emer 
gency.  It  was  a  grand  sight.  Crossing  the  river,  we  first  came 
to  a  large  plain  which  was  skirted  with  heavy  timber.  Skir 
mishers  were  sent  forward  to  examine  the  woods ;  which  were 
found  clear  of  the  enemy,  and  we  marched  on  about  a  mile, 
when  our  cavalry  brought  in  a  couple  of  rebel  pickets.  Things 
began  to  look  a  little  like  fighting,  and  we  all  expected  it  be 
fore  night.  For  the  first  few  miles  we  marched  slowly,  ap 
parently  feeling  our  way,  but  in  a  short  time  -confidence 
appeared  to  be  restored,  and  we  inarched  on  as  confidently  as 
the  day  before.  We  halted  about  noon  for  dinner,  twelve 
miles  from  Culpcpper  Court  House.  •  In  thirty  minutes  we 
resumed  our  march;  and,  at  about  3  P.  M.,  our  cavalry  began 
to  bring  back  to.  the  rear  some  prisoners,  and  in  a  short  time 
firing  commenced  quite  lively  in  advance  of  us.  Orders  came 
for  us  to  advance  more  rapidly.  We  formed  in  close  column, 
and  conformed  to  orders.  Soon  we  passed  a  log  house  by  the 
roadside,  where  we  saw  a  squad  of  our  men  guarding  some  75 
prisoners,  which  they  had  surprised  and  captured.  They  were 
a  portion  of  an  engineer  corps  of  the  enemy,  who  were  engaged 
at  the  time  in  constructing  a  bridge  across  the  Rapidan.  They 
had  no  intimation  of  our  approach,  until  we  were  close  upon 
21 


242  CHANCELLORSVILLE    AND    GETTYSBURG. 

them.  They  all  appeared  to  be  well  supplied  with  food,  and 
were  comfortably  clothed,  and  seemed  very  much  chagrined 
at.  being  thus  caught.  We  had  one  Lieutenant  slightly 
wounded  in  the  affray.  The  enemy  had  one  Lieutenant  very 
severely  and,  I  think,  mortally  wounded.  Our  forces  com 
menced  crossing  immediately,  by  fording  the  river,  while  a 
force  was  detailed  to  finish  the  bridge  which  the  rebels  had 
nearly  completed,  so  that  it  might  be  crossed  by  footmen, 
which  was  soon  accomplished.  Those  that  forded  the  stream, 
though  the  water  was  up  to  their  arms,  and  a  very  strong  cur 
rent,  plunged  in  with  a  hearty  good  will,  and  if  it  was  not 
fun,  at  least  they  called  it  so.  Our  regiment  crossed  about 
dark,  and  encamped  near  the  bank.  We  bivouacked  about  9 
P.  M.,  expecting  a  fight  in  the  morning. 

April  30th.  Spent  a  very  disagreeable  night,  as  it  rained 
without  cessation,  and  we  arose  in  the  morning  thoroughly 
saturated,  and  prepared  to  advance.  We  were  ordered  to 
march  at  9  o'clock.  It  had  ceased  raining,  and  we  all  fell  in 
with  a  good  will,  expecting  to  meet  the  rebels  but  a  short 
distance  in  advance. 

We  now  came  to  grounds  that  the  rebels  had  picketed  the 
night  before.  We  took  some  prisoners  that  morning.  About 
noon  the  enemy  fired  on  us  with  a  piece  of  light  artillery,  one 
shot  coming  very  near  us.  Our  cavalry  advanced  immediately, 
and  after  a  short  skirmish  captured  the  piece. 

We  were  soon  cheered  by  the  sight  of  a  balloon  in  the  dis 
tance,  which  satisfied  us  that  we  were  nearing  Fredericks- 
burg,  and  being  somewhat  fatigued,  with  our  hard  marching 
with  our  eight  days'  rations  on  our  backs,  we  felt  gratified  to 
think  that  our  march  would  soon  terminate,  as  the  enemy 
must  be  between  us  and  that  place.  At  about  4  P.  M.,  we 
came  in  sight  of  the  Chancellorsville  House. 

Four  companies  of  our  regiment,  under  command  of  Cap 
tain  Thomas  Elliott,  of  Company  "  F,"  were  now  ordered  out 
as  skirmishers,  the  remaining  six  following  as  a,  reserve ;  we 


CHANCELLORSVILLE   AND   GETTYSBURG.  243 

went  thus,  through,  a  piece  of  oak  wood,  about  half  a  mile  in 
extent,  and  finding  no  enemy,  the  brigade  took  position  in 
line  of  battle,  our  right  resting  at  a  point  in  the  main  line  of 
battle  formed  by  General  Hooker,  one  half  mile  south  of  the 
road  leading  from  Chancellorsville  House  to  Fredericksburg. 

That  evening  General  Hooker's  order,  congratulating  the 
troops  upon  their  success  thus  far,  thanking  them  for  their 
patient  endurance  of  the  fatigues  of  the  march,  and  promising 
a  brilliant  success  in  the  future,  was  read  to  the  troops,  and 
was  responded  to  by  loud  and  prolonged  cheers  for  General 
Hooker. 

May  1st.  This  morning  we  received  orders  to  muster  for 
pay;  had  just  commenced,  when  the  boom  of  cannon  was 
heard  but  a  short  distance  from  us,  and  we  were  ordered  into 
line,  and  were  soon  marching  in  that  direction,  which  was 
toward  Bank's  Ford.  We  marched  clown  through  the  pine 
woods,  over  brooks,  and  almost  everything  that  could  impede 
our  progress.  We  were  soon  near  enough  to  have  occasion  to 
dodge  the  enemy's  solid  shot,  which  were  hurled  toward  us 
in  great  profusion,  and  some  of  them  came  uncomfortably 
near.  I  assure  you  it  was  not  very  welcome  music  as  they 
came  crashing  through  the  trees;  but  I  believe  none  of  our 
regiment  were  injured.  Soon  the  musketry  firing  became 
very  brisk,  and  we  were  ordered  to  fall  back.  After  falling 
back  about  a  mile,  we  threw  out  skirmishers  and  very  quietly 
drew  back  toward  camp.  On  our  way  there,  on  the  plank 
road  a  short  distance  beyond  the  Chancellorsville  House,  (to 
ward  Fredericksburg,)  we  saw  a  large  number  of  cannon 
planted  which  presented  a  very  threatening  aspect,  and  we 
6egan  to  see  the  object  of  our  former  movements.  They  were 
about  to  play  a  "  yankee  trick  "  upon  the  enemy.  We  had 
hardly  resumed  our  old  position,  when  very  heavy  firing  was 
heard.  Our  skirmishers  had  drawn  the  enemy  after  them, 
within  easy  range  of  these  dogs  of  war,  when  they  opened 
their  brazen  lips,  belching  forth  such  torrents  of  grape  and 


244  CHANCELLORS VTLLE    AND   GETTYSBURG. 

canister  as  compelled  them  to  retire  a  little  chagrined,  as  tfiey 
had  set  up  one  of  their  fiendish  yells  of  victory,  supposing 
that  our  line  had  broken  and  fled  in  confusion;  but  when 
they  discovered  their  mistake,  they  withdrew.  Soon  after 
there  was  a  furious  attack  made  by  cavalry  on  our  right,  but 
they  were  nobly  repulsed.  Again  they  tried  on  our  left,  but 
were  driven  back,  the  loss  being  heavy  on  both  sides.  Night 
coming  on  soon  put  a  stop  to  fighting,  and  we  anxiously  waited 
for  the  morrow  to  tell  its  results.  Morning  came  and  found 
along  our  whole  line  a  splendid  rifle  pit.  The  men  had 
worked  all  night — they  had  marched  hard  for  nearly  a  week, 
had  skirmished  all  day,  and  now  they  work  all  night — con 
structing  breastworks,  and  the  only  tools  they  had,  with  the 
exception  of  two  or  three  spades,  as  many  axes  and  picks, 
were  the  bayonets  of  their  guns,  and  tin  plates  from  their 
haversacks ;  but,  with  'all  these  disadvantages  to  surmount,  in 
one  night  had  constructed  fortifications  behind  which  they 
felt  perfectly  secure. 

May  2d.  This  day  we  were  permitted  to  rest  quietly,  with 
the  exception  of  an  occasional  shell  which  burst  near  enough  to 
remind  us  of  our  proximity  to  the  foe.  At  about  4  P.  M.,  firing 
commenced  in  the  woods  in  our  front.  We  immediately 
sprang  to  arms,  and  anxiously  awaited  an  attack  in  our  en 
trenchments.  All  at  once  a  general  attack  was  made  on  our 
right,  and  we  were  moved  up  the  length  of  our  division. 
Stragglers  at  this  time  came  running  past  in  great  confusion, 
stating  that  the  llth  Corps,  to  which  they  belonged,  was  all 
cut  to  pieces;  our  regiment  was  engaged  in  trying  to  stop 
them,  forming  them  into  a  line,  that  they  might  again  report 
to  their  proper  commands.  The  enemy  were  finally  repulsed 
before  fairly  turning  our  flank,  and  were  driven  around  nearly 
in  rear  of  us.  The  cannonading  at  this  time  was  terrific. 
They  massed  their  forces  twice  during  the  »night,  and  at 
tempted  to  force  our  line.  Artillery  was  ready  for  them,  and 
they  were  driven  back  with  fearful  loss.  It  w/is  a  beautiful 


CHANCELLORSVILLE   AND   GETTYSBURG.  245 

night,  and   the  artillery  firing  was  the  most  fearfully  grand 
sight  that  I  ever  beheld. 

May  3d.     Thie  being  Sunday,  and  as  we  knew  that  this 
.was  the  enemy's  fighting  day,  we  looked  for   a  hard  day's 
'work  ]  the  ball  opened  early  and  fiercely.     About  sunrise  we 
were  ordered  to  move  to  the  right,  about  the  length  of  our 
regiment,  and  at  right  angles  with  the  rifle  pits,  for  the  pur 
pose  of  stopping  stragglers.    This  left  us  in  a  very  exposed  po 
sition.     We  threw  up  some  oak  brush  and  shrubbery  in  front 
of  us,  as  a  sort  of  protection,  and  then  laid  down  behind  it 
awaiting  the  advance  of  the  enemy.     Soon  the  men  of  regi 
ments  which  had   been  engaged  came   running   back,  some 
with  and  some  without   arms.     We   succeeded   in   stopping- 
many  of  them.     Soon  the  enemy  were  near  enough  for  us  to 
do  a  little  execution ;  we  arose,  discharged  our  pieces  at  the 
foe,  who  were  advancing,  leaped  over  our  brush  heaps,  ad 
vanced,  loaded  and   fired  several  rounds,  and  then  resumed 
our  former  position,  and  waited  for  them  to  form  their  line, 
which  we  had  broken  up  somewhat,  and  advance  upon  us 
again,  which  they  soon  did.     We  gave  them  another  volley, 
then  charged  upon  them ;  but  they  would  not  stand,  but  ran 
in  all  directions.     We  therefore  stood  and  fired  upon  them 
several  rounds  more,  but  seeing  that  we  were  the  only  regi 
ment  which  had  not  retired,  concluded  we   had   better  fall 
back.     At   this   time    our   commanding   officer,    Lieutenant- 
Colonel  J.  C.  0.  Redington,  could  not  be  found.     Some  said 
-he  had  been  killed,  but  the  regiment  rallied,  and  formed  in 
line,  and  was   marched  to  the  rear  by  the  Senior  Captain, 
Thomas   Elliott,  about   100   rods;    here  we   formed   a   line 
under   the  direction  of  a  Staff  Officer,  (General    Geary's). 
About   this    time    Colonel   Redington    came    up    uninjured. 
Before  marching  to  the  rear  Major  Thomas  and  Captain  El 
liott  had  received  slight  wounds ;  the  Major  had  left  the  field, 
and  Captain  Elliott  left  immediately  after  forming  the  second 
line.     After  forming  this  line  we  were  cheered  by  the  words 
21* 


246  CHANCELLORSVILLE   AND    GETTYSBURG. 

of  General  Geary's  Aid,  who  said,  "  General  Hooker  says  it 
is  all  well  on  the  right;  hold  this  position,  and  all  is  safe." 
The  determination  that  was  depicted  in  tha  countenances  of 
the  men,  was  beautiful  to  behold ;  but  the  enemy  outnum 
bered  us  five  to  one ;  and  though  every  inch  of  the  ground 
was  contested,  inch  by  inch  we  were  compelled  to  retire. 

While  fighting  at  this  point,  the  Adjutant  was  severely 
wounded  by  a  grape  shot,  (probably  from  our  own  guns,) 
striking  his  sword  scabbard,  which,  being  of  steel,  doubtless 
saved  his  life.  We  continued  to  fall  back  until  we  reached 
'the  plank  road,  where  there  was  another  line  of  rifle  pits. 
These  we  immediately  occupied,  and  remained  about  an  hour 
under  a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy's  artillery,  supporting  a 
battery  which  was  finally  compelled  to  fall  back,  taking  some 
of  their  pieces  out  by  hand,  as  their  horses  had  been  killed  by 
the  enemy's  shells.  Here,  again,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Eeding- 
ton  was  missing,  and  did  not  appear  until  just  before  we  fell 
back,  out  of  range  9f  the  enemy's  guns.  We  fell  back  in 
good  order,  and  joined  our  Brigade,  which  we  found  located 
about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  southeast  of  the  Chancellors- 
ville  House,  in  an  oak  thicket;  and  there  we  hoped,  for  a 
short  time,  at  least,  to  rest  ourselves,  as  we  were  very  much 
exhausted  from  constant  vigilance  and  anxiety ;  but  how  vain 
were  our  expectations,  for  we  had  not  been  there  exceeding 
ten  minutes,  when  our  men  thinking  it  a  good  time  to  make 
coffee,  kindled  fires  for  that  purpose,  the  smoke  from  which 
ascending  above  the  tops  of  the  trees,  discovered  our  where 
abouts  to  the  enemy,  and  they  at  once  opened  upon  us  such  a 
shower  of  shot  and  shell  as  reminded  us  quite  forcibly  that 
they  were  not  willing  that  we  should  remain  there  any  longer; 
hence  we  took  it  for  granted  that  "  discretion  was  the  better 
part  of  valor,"  and  made  the  best  of  our  way  out.  Just  as  we 
were  starting,  a  solid  shot  from  the  enemy  instituted  a  search 
in  the  haversack  of  one  of  the  "  boys"  of  Company  "  H," 
tearing  it  from  him  in  a  very  rude  manner,  and  throwing  his 


CHANCELLORSVILLE    AND    aETTYSBURO.  247 

11  hard  tack"  in  every  conceivable  direction.  It  felled  him  to 
the  earth  at  first,  but  finding  that  he  was  not  injured,  he  rose 
to  his  feet  and,  looking  around,  said :  "  Hallo  !  the  d — d  vil 
lains  are  cutting  off  my  supplies  !" 

Our  regiment  was  now  marched  down  to  the  trenches  again, 
and  took  position  in  the  front  line,  there  to  do  picket  duty. 
About  one-half  of  the  regiment  was  sent  out  in  front  as  skir 
mishers,  the  remaining  half  were  left  in-  the  trenches  as  a 
reserve.  Nothing  occurring  of  importance  that  night,  we  were 
relieved  in  the  morning  by  our  reserve ;  we  taking  their 
positions.  We  then  fell  to  work  strengthening  our  breast 
works,  and  arranging  everything  for  the  contest  which  we  now 
expected  every  moment,  as  there  was  heavy  skirmishing  just 
on  our  right,  and  momentarily  working  towards  our  line ;  but 
the  enemy  were  repulsed  or  held  in  check,  so  that  they  did 
not  come  upon  our  entrenchments.  At  this  time  General  Kane, 
of  the  2d  Brigade,  came  down  and  congratulated  us  on  our 
success  in  the  completion  of  our  breastworks,  and  said  he  would 
like  to  see  five  thousand  of  the  enemy  attack  that  position, 
held  just  by  our  regiment  alone.  Said  he  :  "I  have  heard'of 
the  valor  displayed  by  you  on  the  field  yesterday ;  you  were 
n,ot  content  to  dance  with  the  girls  all  day,  but  had  to  go  down 
below  and  smoke  in  the  evening  !" 

We  remained  there  holding  that  position  until  the  artillery 
had  crossed  the  river  on  their  return  to  their  former  camps. 
In  the  morning,  just  at  dawn,  the  rebels  threw  a  few  sheWs 
from  our  left,  across  the  river  into  our  wagon  train,  then 
situated  nearly  opposite  the  United  States  Ford,  in  an  open 
field ;  which  caused  no  little  surprise  to  the  great  number  of 
non-combatants — teamsters,  negroes,  servants  and  stragglers, 
who  were  scattered  in  the  woods  in  the  vicinity  of  the  train. 
The  train  people  were  just  having  their  morning  nap,  in 
fancied  security,  when  the  shells  began  to  burst  in  their 
midst,  "  and  then  there  was  hurrying  in  hot  haste,"  and 
hastily  harnessing  of  horses  and  rnules,  and  "  skedaddling" 


248  CHANCELLORSVILLE    AND    GETTYSBURG. 

generally — all  supposing  that  the  enemy  was  actually  on 
the  north  side  of  the  river.  It  was  also  the  first  occasion 
when  the  enemy  had  got  near  enough  to  shell  our  train,  which 
consisted  of  several  thousand  wagons.  But  three  or  four  per 
sons  were  killed,  and  but  few  animals.  One  shell  passed 
through  a  hospital  tent,  killing  two  wounded  men;  one  a 
Union  soldier,  and  one  a  rebel,  sitting  side  by  side.  There 
being  a  large  number  of  prisoners  guarded  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  train,  some  escaped  during  the  melee. 

On  "Wednesday  morning,  the  6th  of  May,  we  took  up  our 
line  of  march  very  much  dispirited,  as  that  was  the  first  inti 
mation  that  we  had  that  we  were  whipped,  or  that  there  was 
any  danger  of  it.  We  arrived  at  and  crossed  the  river,  at 
United  States  Ford,  at  about  4J  A.  M.,  and  pursued  our 
march  until  we  arrived  at  our  old  camp  at  Acquia  Creek 
Landing,  and  took  possession  t>f  our  cabins,  which  had  not 
been  disturbed  in  our  absence.  I  will  remark  that  Companies 
"B,"  "D"  and  «K"  were  left  behind,  being  on  picket. 
These  companies  being  unable  to  join  the  regiment  on  the 
march,  went  directly  to  Stoneman's  Switch,  where  they  took 
the  cars,  and  arrived  in  camp  one  day  before  the  remainder  of 
the  regiment  came  up. 

Here,  after  getting  fairly  settled,  and  completely  rested 
from  the  excessive  fatigues  of  the  campaign,  we  began  to 
recall  to  mind  incidents  which  occurred  upon  the  field,  in  the 
late  battle,  a  few  of  which  I  will  give  you  in  this  connection. 

When  we  made  the  first  charge  over  the  line  of  oak  brush 
which  we  had  thrown  up,  (more  to  conceal  our  position  than 
a  defence,)  one  Erastus  Webster,  of  Company  "  K,"  an  eccen 
tric  woodsman,  but  a  good  soldier,  in  bringing  his  gun  to  a 
"  ready,"  had  it  swept  from  his  hands  and  knocked  to  flinders 
by  a  solid  shot  from  one  of  the  enemy's  guns ;  but  not  willing 
to  give  up  the  contest  thus,  went  off  to  the  right  where  a  good 
many  had  fallen,  to  pick  up  another  gun,  as  he  said  he  had 
seen  several  as  we  marched  up  to  our  present  position.  On 


CHANCELLORSVILLE    AND    GETTYSBURG.  249 

arriving  there,  he  had  just  secured  the  much-coveted  "  shoot- 
in'-iron"  as  he  called  it,  when  four  or  five  rebs.  came  up  and 
commanded  him  to  surrender ;  looking  around,  and  seeing  no 
help,  he  threw  down  his  gun,  and  was  about  to  accompany 
them,  when  six  of  our  boys  coming  up,  demanded  the  imme 
diate  surrender  of  the  five  rebs.  Webster  seeing  them,  im 
mediately  seized  his  gun  again,  saying  "It's  a  pretty  big  thing, 
but  I  don't  'zactly  see  the  pint  of  surrenderin'  to  you  fellers!" 
and  turned  and  assisted  in  conducting  the  disappointed  rebs. 
within  our  lines. 

John  Thomas,  a  Welshman,  while  standing  in  line,  loading 
and  firing,  was  struck  in  the  breast  by  a  "grape,"  which 
passed  in  front  of  us,  taking  off  one  button  from  his  coat,  and 
tearing  out  the  button-hole,  knocked  him  over  into  the  arms 
of  Sergeant  Follett,  who,  supposing  him  to  be  seriously 
wounded,  ordered  him  to  the  rear;  but  on  Thomas*  pulling 
open  his  clothes,  and  seeing  that  the  missle  had  not  penetra 
ted  his  breast,  he  exclaimed  :  "  No,  sir !  I'll  not  leave  here 
until  I  am  hurt  worser  than  this  \"  and  resumed  his  work 
more  earnestly  than  before. 

An  Orderly  of  one  of  the  Generals  riding  along  in  rear  of 
our  lines,  had  his  horse  struck  by  a  shell  which  burst  in  his 
bowels,  tearing  him  completely  to  pieces,  and  throwing  the 
orderly  four  or  five  feet  into  the  air.  Upon  lighting,  as  he 
did  on  all  fours,  he  straightened  up,  and  seeing  his  horse  thus 
mangled,  walked  off,  saying,  that  he  did  not  want  that  horse 
any  more. 

I  relate  these  incidents  to  show  the  determination  on  the 
part  of  the  men,  and  that  if  we  meet  with  reverses  it  is  not 
their  fault,  as  it  is  acknowledged  by  all,  that  they  will  not 
only  fight  when  an  opportunity  presents  itself,  but  will  seek 
opportunities  to  give  battle. 

The  regiment  remained  at  the  old  camp  until  the  13th  of 
June.  On  the  2d  Captains  Carter  and  Robertson  left  for 
home,  having  resigned.  Both  these  officers  commanded  their 


250  CHANCELLORSVTLLE    AND    GETTYSBURG 

respective  companies  during  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville. 
Our  wounded  who  were  left  on  the  field  were  finally  delivered 
up  to  us,  and  were  brought  to  the  Hospital  at  Acquia  creek, 
at  which  place  Sergeant  Hayward  died.  He  was  wounded 
through  the  chest,  and  was  left  for  dead  on  the  field,  and  was 
not  cared  for  by  the  rebels  for  three  days,  and  for  five  days  he 
had  no  food  of  consequence.  He  lived,  however,  until  he 
arrived  at  the  creek,  keeping  up  his  spirits  remarkably  well. 
He  was  a  true  patriot  soldier.  Sergeant  Raymond  had  nearly 
the  same  experience  as  Sergeant  Hayward,  but  survived ;  his 
wound  being  in  the  leg.  On  the  10th  of  June,  to  the  sur 
prise  or  most  of  the  regiment,  Colonel  Abel  Godard  arrived 
within  the  command.  He  had  been  commissioned  in  De 
cember,  but  had  not  been  mustered  into  the  U.  S.  service. 
The  Commission  having  been  sent  direct  to  the  regiment  and 
coming  into  the  hands  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  C.  O.  lled- 
ington,  of  course  was  not  forwarded  to  him ;  but  instead, 
he  was  reported  absent  without  leave.  How  a  man  could  be 
reported  at  all  until  he  was  mustered  into  the  U.  S.  service,  I 
could  not  understand.  Under  directions  of  higher  authority, 
however,  he  was  dropped  from  the  rolls.  Under  notice  or  by 
direction  of  the  Adjutant-General  of  N.  Y.,  the^  Provost-Mar 
shal  of  the  17th  Congressional  District,  N.  Y.,  ordered  him 
to  report  to  General  Greene  for  duty.  Meanwhile  his  case  had 
been  reported  to  the  Corps  Headquarters,  in  order  to  get  a 
recommendation  from  the  board  on  "  absentees"  for  the  annul 
ling  of  the  Commission.  It  was  procured  without  the  ap 
proval  of  the  Commanding  General,  and  forwarded  to  Albany 
by  the  Lieutenant-Colonel.  Just  as  this  was  done,  Colonel 
Godard  arrived,  and  application  was  immediately  made  for  a 
special  order  for  his  muster,  the  regiment  being  so  small  it 
could  not  be  done  without  it. 

Again  we  made  preparations  for  a  movement  by  turning  in 
all  surplus  clothing,  camp  and  garrison  equipage,  and  ord 
nance  stores;  and  on  the  night  of  the  12th  of  June  we 


CHAXCELLORSVILLE   AND   GETTYSBURG.  251 

received  the  order  to  be  ready  to  move  at  six  o'clock  the  next 
morning  to  a  point  on  the  railroad  near  the  bridge  across  the 
Potomac  creek,  for  the  purpose  of  doing  picket  duty.  Be 
lieving  this,  we  loaded  on  the  wagons  such  articles  as  we 
thought  would  be  convenient,  with  the  intention  of  sending 
the  teams  back  for  such  things  as  we  could  not  carry.  On 
the  13th  we  moved  in  obedience  to  orders,  and  arrived  at  our 
destination  at  about  2  P.  M.,  and  immediately  sent  our  teams 
back  for  forage,  etc.,  left  behind.  We  supposed  of  course 
that  we  were  to  remain  here  during  the  summer,  at  least.  We 
began  to  arrange  things  accordingly ;  but  only  a  short  time 
elapsed  before  we  discovered  large  numbers  of  convalescents 
and  stragglers  moving  in  the  direction  of  Stafford  Court  House, 
having  come  from  Falmouth.  Soon  the  'great  wagon  train 
began  to  move  past  us  in  the  sarnie  direction  ;  then  came  the 
reserve  artillery  and  ambulances.  The  query  was  upon  every 
lip,  "  What  does  all  this  mean  ?"  We  were  not  long  left  in 
doubt,  as  we  received  an  order  before  sundown  to  march  im 
mediately  in  the  direction  of  Fairfax.  We  had  commenced 
the  long,  tedious  and  wearying  march  which  terminated  at 
Gettysburg,  Pa.  Our  teams  had  not  returned,  and  we  were 
sorely  perplexed.  They  would  have  also  to  meet  that  constant 
stream  of  wagons,  which  it  would  be  impossible  to  pass,  and 
the  road  was  nearly  a  mile  distant.  The  only  course  which 
seemed  to  be  left  was  to  transport  the  loading  down  to  the  road, 
somewhat  in  advance  of  the  point  where  tlie  teams  would  strike. 
A  detail  was  therefore  made,  and  such  articles  as  we  could  not 
carry^in  the  few  wagons  still  remaining  with  us  were  trans 
ported  to  the  proper  place,  and  finally  taken  in  by  the  teams. 

This  consumed  the  time  until  near  midnight,  and  a  dark 
night  it  was.  The  heavens  were,  however,  lighted  up  in  the  di 
rection  of  Falmouth  and  Stoneman's  Switch,  indicating  the 
destruction  of  such  stores  as  could  not  be  transported.  We 
moved  on  with  the  train,  our  brigade  bringing  up  the  rear. 
We  were  ordered  to  move  on  as  rapidly  as  possible,  not  wait- 


252  CHANCELLORSVILLE    AND    GETTYSBURG. 

ing  to  water  or  feed  the  animals.  We  did,  however,  succeed 
occasionally  in  giving  each  animal  a  pail  of  water,  in  the  har 
ness.  %  Our  train  kept  moving  until  we  reached  the  Occoquan 
river,  at  the  village  of  that  name.  The  troops,  however, 
halted  for  the  night  at  Dumfries.  A  pontoon  bridge  was 
laid  across  the  Occoquan,  but  a  delay  of  12  hours  was  caused 
*by  constructing  the  bridge  and  its  approaches. 

The  next  day,  the  16th  of  June,  the  train  moved  on  to 
Fairfax  Court  House.  The  troops  moved  to  the  same  point  by 
way  of  Wolf  Run  Shoals,  which  was  one  of  the  severest  marches 
made  during  the  year.  The  weather  was  intensely  hot,  and 
the  dust  was  almost  suffocating.  There  were  several  cases  of 
sun-stroke.  We  remained  at  Fairfax  Court  House  during  the 
17th  ]  in  the  evening  of  which  day,  Colonel  Godard  took  com 
mand,  he  having  been  mustered  into  the  service.  You  may  be 
sure  that  event  was  well  received  by  the  regiment  generally. 
They  had  been,  for  a  considerable  time,  desirous  of  a  change, 
the  reasons  for  which  it  is  needless  to  mention  to  you.  All 
those  who  had  been  taken  seriously  ill  on  the  march  thus  far, 
were  sent  by  railroad  to  Alexandria,  and  on  the  morning  of 
the  18th,  we  again  moved  on  in  the  direction  of  Drainesville, 
and  encamped  about  two  miles  south  of  that  place,  near  the 
forks  of  the  road  from  Fairfax,  and  the  Alexandria  Pike.  We 
moved  more  steadily  this  day,  and  halted  in  good  time  for 
supper.  The  troops  bivouacked,  and  the  trains  were  properly 
parked,  and  we  all  had  a  good  night's  rest. 

On  the  19th,  we  again  moved  on,  in  the  direction  of  Lees- 
burg,  following  the  Pike,  through  Drainesville,  passing  over 
the  ground  where  a  cavalry  battle  had  been  fought  earlier  in 
the  war.  This  is  a  beautiful  country  when  contrasted  with 
Stafford  County,  or,  in  fact,  with  any  portion  of  the  route 
between  Acedia  Creek  and  this  point. 

We  were  told  at  this  place  that  the  rebel  cavalry  had  been 
in  the  locality  but  a  short  time  previous,  and  were  no  doubt 
now  looking  about  with  the  intention  of  making  a  dash  on  our 


CHANCELLORSVILLE    AND    GETTYSBURG.  253 

train.  The  main  body  of  troops  were  in  the  advance.  About 
the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  word  was  passed  along  the  train 
that  we  had  arrived  at  a  suspected  locality,  and  that  the 
guards  and  teamsters  must  all  have  their  guns  loaded,  so  as  to 
be  ready  for  use  at  any  moment.  The  guards  and  extra-duty 
men  marched  along  beside  the  train,  at  regular  intervals,  with 
fixed  bayonets,  and  presented  quite  a  formidable  appearance, 
but  no  foe  appeared.  We  were  thus  moving  along  steadily, 
and  quite  rapidly,  when  one  of  the  severest  thunder  storms  of 
the  season  burst  upon  us,  accompanied  by  hailstones  as  large 
as  walnuts.  The  train  was  compelled  to  halt.  The  teams 
could  with  great  "difficulty  be  kept  in  the  road.  Some  of  them 
did  make  for  the  woods  near  the  road.  Some  of  the  mules 
got  entangled,  while  others  upset  the  wagons.  It  was  almost 
impossible  to  withstand  the  hail.  It  subsided  at  length,  and 
we  were  enabled  to  reach  Goose  Creek,  within  four  miles  of 
Leesburg.  The  principal  part  of  the  troops  encamped  on 
the  Leesburg  side  of  the  Creek,  the  advance  reaching  to  the 
village,  but  the  train  remained  on  the  south  side.  The  bridge 
had  been  destroyed  by  the  rebels  some  time  previous.  The 
3d  Brigade  was  left  as  a  guard  to  the  train. 

On  the  20th,  we  moved  on,  being  compelled  to  ford  Goose 
Creek  about  one  mile  above  the  bridge,  at  the  site  of  an  old 
niill-dain.  This  was  rendered  necessary  on  account  of  the  bad 
fording  near  the  site  of  the  old  bridge,  and  the  Creek  having 
been  raised  considerably  by  the  rain  of  the  day  before.  We 
reached  Leesburg  about  noon,  when  we  beheld  a  sight  which 
I  never  wish  to  see  again — the  execution  of  three  men  con 
victed  of  the  crime  of  desertion.  Their  names  were,  William 
McKee,  Co.  A,  46th  P.  V.;  William  Groover,  of  the  same  re 
giment,  and  Christopher  Krumbar,  Co.  B,  13th  N.  J.  Vols., 
all  belonging  to  the  1st  Division  of  the  12th  Army  Corps. 
They  were  executed  near  the  road  running  from  Leesburg 
to  Edward's  Ferry,  and  between  that  road  and  the  Alexandria 
Pike.  The  Division  was  drawn  up  in  the  form  of  a  square, 
22 


254  CHANCELLORSVILLE  AND   GETTYSBURG. 

enclosing  three  sides ;  the-  open  side  being  towards  the  road, 
in  which  was  placed  the  condemned  men  in  line,  and  about 
twenty  feet  apart,  standing  in  front  of  three  new-made  graves, 
with  coffins,  made  of  rough  boards,  beside  them.  On  the  left 
of  the  condemned,  (as  they  faced  the  Division,)  wore  the 
Generals  and  Staffs,  and  the  Provost-General ;  in  front  or 
inside  the  square,  were  three  'squads,  of  eight  men  each,  res 
pectively  in  front  of  and  facing  the  criminals.  The  prepara 
tions  having  all  been  completed,  the  order  for  their  execution 
was  given,  and  at  the  word  "  Fire  !"  they  were  launched  forth 
into  the  untried  ocean  of  Eternity.  They  were  instantly 
killed,  each  having  been  pierced  by  several  balls.  Their 
bodies  were  then  placed  in  the  coffins,  and  the  troops  marched 
past,  in  column  by  platoons,  giving  all  an  opportunity  to  view 
the  corpses.  These  men  were  really  not  such  great  criminals 
as  many  others  who  had  deserted  earlier  in  the  war,  and  who, 
on  account  of  the  laxity  of  discipline,  escaped  punishment. 
Having,  however,  disobeyed  orders,  and  deserted,  and  thereby 
incurred  the  penalty,  desertion  had  become  so  frequent,  that 
it  had  become  absolutely  necessary  to  enforce  it. 

The  12th  Corps  supply  train  was  moved  on  the  road  towards 
Edward's  Ferry,  about  one  mile  and  a  half  from  Leesburg, 
while  the  troops  were  posted  on  the  commanding  positions  on 
the  different  roads  approaching  the  town.  Our  Brigade  was 
set  to  work  repairing  an  old  fort,  which  had  been  commenced, 
but  not  completed  by  the  rebels,  and  which  commanded  the 
road  leading  from  the  Ferry,  and  also  the  river  which  is  not 
far  distant,*  within  easy  range  of  artillery.  We  remained  at 
this  point  five  days,  during  which  time  the  cavalry  fight  near 
Aldie  took  place.  The  cannonading  was  Distinctly  heard  dur- 
ino-  the  battle,  which  lasted  nearly  all  day.  This  was  on  the 

21st. 

Everything  seemed  to  be  quiet  until  the  24th,  when  rumors 
came  that  the  enemy  was  advancing  on  the  place.  They  did 


CHANCELLORSVTLLE    AND    GETTYSBURG.  255 

advance  in  a  threatening   attitude  during  the  day,  but  fell 
back  during  the  night. 

On  the  25th,  the  llth  Corps  moved  down  the  south  side  of 
Goose  Creek  to  the  Potomac,  where  it  crossed  both  streams 
on  pontoon  bridges.  The  Ferry  is  opposite  the  mouth  of 
Goose  Creek.  The  Potomac  at  this  point  is  1320  feet  in 
width.  Two  bridges  were  put  across  here  to  facilitate  the 
crossing  of  the  army. 

In  company  with  Lieutenant  L.  H.  Mitchell,  doing  duty  in 
the  Engineer  Department  on  General  Hooker's  Staff,  also  for 
merly  from  Parishville,  and  Mr.  Oswell/of  Ogdensburgh,  in 
the  same  department,  and  an  assistant  of  Lieutenant  Mitchell, 
I  visited  the  Ball's  Bluff  battle-field,  which  is  about  one  mile 
and  a  half  from  Leesburg.  I  saw  the  place  where  the  gallant 
Baker  fell.  A  long  trench,  in  the  little  opening  where  he 
placed  his  artillery,  shows  where  rest  the  braves  who  were 
sacrified  to  the  incompetency  of— somebody.  This  bluff  is 
almost  perpendicular,  and  extends  along  the  river  bank  for  a 
long  distance,  and  is  covered  with  forest  trees,  whose  branches 
and  the  underbrush  are  interwoven  with  the  grape  and  other 
vines.  The  only  point  near  where  cannon  could  be  taken  up, 
was  just  opposite  the  field,  and  was  merely  a  path  in  the  woods, 
up  which  inclined  plane  the  cannon  had  to  be  hauled  by 
human  hands.  Opposite  this  point  is  Harrison's  Island,  across 
which  (making,  of  course,  two  streams)  Colonel  Baker  was 
compelled  to  transport  his  troops,  without  pontoon  bridges  or 
necessary  boats — only  having  one  or  two  old  scows.  It  will 
be  pronounced  in  all  time  one  of  the  most  foolhardy  attempts 
to  attack  a  superior  force  which  has  taken  place  during  the 
war. 

We  broke  camp  at  3  A.  M.,  and  before  noon  the  whole 
Corps,  trains  and  all,  had  crossed  the  river  into  Maryland. 
Once  more,  after  so  long  a  time,  had  we  again  set  foot  on 
loyal  soil ;  but  not  with  that  feeling  of  pride  with  which  we 
were  wont  in  former  times;  The  foe  had  anticipated  us,  and 


256  CHANCELLORSVILLK    AND    GETTYSBURG. 

was  rioting,  unmolested,  in  the  valleys  of  Maryland  and 
Pennsylvania,  "  They  must  be  driven  out,  and  punished  for 
their  audacity,"  was  the  cry  of  our  men,  as  they  pushed  on 
towards  the  Mouocaey.  We  received  supplies  at  the  Ferry. 
Captain  Elliott  also  joined  us  here,  and  we  moved  on  up  the 
river  to  a  point  near  to  the  mouth  of  the  Monoeaey,  where 
we  encamped  for  the  night.  The  newspapers  were  anxiously 
sought,  as  we  had  been  by  necessity  deprived  of  them  for  a 
long  time,  and  not  until  we  received  them,  did  we  begin  to 
appreciate  the  real  danger,  or  the  state  of  excitement 
throughout  the  loyal  north. 

On  the  27th,  broke  camp  about  seven  A.  M.,  and  moved 
on  up  the  river  in  the  direction  of  Knoxville,  which  place, 
we  were  told,  was  to  be  our  destination,  crossing  the  Mono- 
cacy  at  the  aqueduct,  near  its  mouth,  while  the  train  bore 
more  to  the  right  in  the  direction  of  Frederick  City.  Our 
destination  being  Middletown,  a  little  village  eight  miles  from 
Frederick,  in  the  direction  of  Hagerstown,  between  the 
Catoctin  range  and  South  Mountain,  where  we  were  informed 
also  that  the  troops  and  trains  would  again  meet.  The  train 
moved  through  Frederick,  and  up  the  pike  about  two  miles, 
and  parked  for  the  night.  The  troops  moved  on  in  the 
direction  of  Knoxville,  and  finally  turned  towards  Frederick 
and  encamped  near  Jefferson,  a  small  village  on  the  north 
slope  of  the  Catoctin  range.  The  28th  they  moved  to  within 
one  mile  of  Frederick,  while  the  train  moved  up  to  Middle- 
town,  where  it  remained  until  near  dark,  when  it  retraced  its 
steps  and  joined  the  troops  about  11  P.  M.  Orders  w,ere 
given  to  issue  three  days'  rations  immediately,  which  was  done, 
that  the  troops  might  be  in  readiness  to  move  at  daylight. 
Some  boots  and  stockings  were  also  issued  to  the  most  needy 
of  the  men  who  had  worn  their  shoes  entirely  out.  This  was 
unexpected  by  them,  and  therefore  better  appreciated.  The 
troops  moved  early,  as  also  the  train  ;  but,  in  consequence  of 
so  many  trains  passing  through  the  city,  we  did  not  get 


CHANCELLORSVILLE   AND   GETTYSBURG.  25  < 

through  until  afternoon,  when  we  moved  on  in  the  direction 
of  Gettysburg,  by  the  way  of  "Woodsborough,  Taneytown 
and  Littlctown.  We  could  not  get  clear  of  the  city  without 
exhibiting  to  the  quiet  people  of  that  town  the  effects  of  the 
soldier's  worst  enemy — cheap  whiskey.  I  saw  more  drunk 
enness  this  day  than  it  has  been  my  lot  to  witness  during  the 
war,.  The  men  had  been  deprived  of  access  to  stimulating 
drinks,  and  as  there  was  no  particular  restraint  on  its  sale, 
they  filled  their  canteens,  the  effect  of  which  was  soon 
manifest  along  the  streets,  and  by  the  sides  of  the  highways. 
The  appearance  resembled  somewhat  the  battle-field  after  a 
severe  contest.  In  this  case  the  enemy  was  evidently 
victorious,  as  the  dead  (drunk)  and  wounded  lay  on  every 
hand,  all  having  been  wounded  in  the  neck,  some  slightly, 
and  others  severely.  In  this  contest  there  seemed  to  be  great 
rivalry  between  the  officers  and  soldiers  to  see  which  would 
most  severely  punish  their  enemy  and  destroyer.  It  will 
remain  for  the  future  historian  to  determine  the  question  of 
superiority,  for,  as  far  as  I  could  see,  they  were  equally  brave, 
and  seemed  to  be  in  the  race  neck  and  necJc.  When  the 
enemy's  batteries  were  fully  opened  I  am  inclined  to  think 
that  the  "  shoulder-straps,"  being  in  the  advance,  must  have 
suffered  most,  having  received  the  heaviest  (dis)charges. 
Had  General  Lee  been  able  to  have  attacked  us  at  that  time 
I  am  afraid  that  we  could  not  have  obtained  such  a  glorious 
result  as  we  afterwards  achieved. 

It  was  on  this  morning  that  the  army  was  first  aware  that 
there  had  been  any  change  of  Commander.  All  sorts  of 
rumors  were  afloat  with  regard  to  the  successor  of  General 
Hooker.  General  Meade  was  not  particularly  known,  except 
as  Commander  of  the  5th  Corps,  and  it  was  supposed,  by 
some,  that  his  Command  would  be  but  temporary,  and  that 
he  would  be  replaced  by  General  McClellan,  and  it  was  even 
rumored  that  the  latter  was  actually  in  command.  Some 
surprise  was,  no  doubt,  felt,  but  none  expressed ;  all  seemed 
22* 


258  CHANCELLORSVILLE   AND   GETTYSBURG. 

intent  on  a  common  object,  and  had  confidence  in  themselves, 
in  the  army,  and  in  the  justice  of  their  cause,  and  did  not 
fear  to  encounter  the  rebels  at  any  time ;  but  on  the  contrary 
were  eager  for  the  fray  on  loyal  soil. 

I  will  here  remark  that,  so  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  judge, 
the  v  troops  will  march  much  further  without  fatigue  and 
complaint,  to  meet  the  enemy,  than  to  go  from  them.  It  may 
be  caused  by  the  excitement  of  the.  occasion,  and  their  desire 
to  accomplish  something  definite  and  conclusive.  It  is  true, 
however,  there  are  fewer  stragglers  while  the  army  is  moving 
towards  the  enemy  than  from  'them.  The  stragglers  and 
cowards  are  exceptions.  The  true  patriot  soldier  feels  a  com 
mendable  pride  in  being  at  his  post,  and  there  doing"  his  duty — 
the  same  spirit  which  prompted  most  of  our  soldiers  to  volun 
teer  for  the  salvation  of  our  Government,  and  makes  them  look 
with  scorn  and  detestation  upon  any  man  who  is  known  to 
shirk  his  duty  in  the  hour  of  danger. 

On  the  29th,  we  moved  about  fifteen  miles.  On  the  30th, 
we  moved  on  from  Woodsborough  to  Littletown,  in  Pennsyl 
vania,  passing  General  Meade's  Headquarters,  at  Taneytown, 
Md.  Not  far  from  the  hour  of  noon,  we  halted,  and  as  we 
were  approaching  the  Pennsylvania  line,  we  were  all  anxious 
to  know  exactly  where  it  was.  li  seemed  almost  like  getting 
home ;  we  felt  freer,  and  less  under  that  kind  of  restraint  upon 
one  subject  which  (in  consequence  of  a  local  social  institution) 
we  felt  it  due  to  the  loyal  people  of  the  State  not  to  mention 
in  any  way  to  offend  or  stir  up  strife  or  dissensions  among  the 
people,  or  offend  some  loyal  officers  who,  if  not  advocates  of, 
were  apologists  for,  the  institution,  being  residents  of  border 
States. 

There  are  some  splendid  farms  in  this  part  of  the  country, 
and  it  is  noted,  I  should  say,  for  its  magnificent  barns  and 
out-buildings.  In  fact,  our  route,  since  we  crossed  the  Poto 
mac,  had  been  through  a  fine  agricultural  country.  From 
Frederick  to  the  Maryland  line,  may  be  found  some  of  the 


CHANCELLORSVILLE    AND    GETTYSBURG.  259 

finest  wheat  farms  in  the  land.  The  principal  crop  this  year 
is  wheat.  The  golden  grain  was  just  ready  for  the  sickle, 
but  all  labor  seemed  to  be  at  a  stand-still.  The  fear  of  the 
consequences  of  the  impending  battle,  and  the  warlike  passage 
of  troops  through  the  country,  paralyzed  the  inhabitants. 

Soon  after  crossing  "  Mason  &  Dixon's  line,"  we  came  to  a 
snug  little  brick  house,  standing  at  the  corner  of  the  road, , 
with  woods  near,  and  a  play-ground  in  front,  and  as  we  passed 
it,  we  all  took  off  our  hats,  going  by  uncovered,  and  gave  three 
hearty  cheers  for  the  Free  Common  Schools  of  America! 
A  friend  of  mine,  of  Frederick,  Captain  W.,  being  in  our 
company,  was  at  first  inclined  to  take  the  demonstration  as  a 
reflection  on  his  State,  the  one  we  had  just  left,  but,  on  con 
sideration,  seeing  that  nothing  of  the  kind  was  intended,  ho 
paid  a  high  tribute  to  popular  education,  and  the  necessity  for 
its  support  and  encouragement.  He  had  formerly  been  a 
teacher. 

We  encamped  near  Littletown,  and  distributed  clothing,  of 
which  the  troops  stood  in  great  need. 

July  1st.  We  moved,  about  8  A.  M.,  towards  Gettysburg, 
and  arrived  at  a  place  called  Two  Taverns,/before  noon,  where 
the  troops  took  dinner,  and  the  train  was  put  in  park,  and 
held  in  readiness  to  move  at  a  moment's  notice.  •  And  now 
the  booming  of  cannon  could  be  heard  at  the  front,  some  four 
,  miles  distant,  and  gradually  grew  more  rapid.  From  an  ele 
vation  near  our  halting  place,  I  could  see  the  smoke  from  the 
cannon  and  the  little  puffs  in  the  air,  which  indicated  the 
bursting  of  shells.  These  little  circles  of  smoke  which  seemed 
to  be  floating  off  quietly  in  the  air,  were  evidence  to  us  of  the 
conflict  going  on  below. 

The   great  battle  had  commenced.     The  12th  Corps  was 
ordered   promptly  forward,  while  the  train  was  sent  to  the  - 
rear,  down  the  Pike  towards  Baltimore,  and  did  not  perma 
nently  halt  until  it  reached  a  point  two  miles  beyond  West 
minster,  Md.;  a  distance  of  twenty-five  miles  from  the  battle- 


200  CHANCELLORSVILLE    AND    GETTYSBURG. 

field.  The  wagons  containing  hospital  supplies  and  their 
accompanying  attendants,  as  well  as  the  ammunition,  were 
ordered  to  the  front  "j  all  unnecessary  material  being  kept  in 
the  rear.  Communication  was,  however,  kept  up  constantly 
between  the  troops  and  the  train. 

Our  Division  reached  the  vicinity  of  the  battle-field  at  about 
4  P.  M.,  where  we  remained,  lying  upon  our  arms,  until  6£  A. 
M.,  on  the  m'orning  of  the  2d  of  July,  when  we  took  up  posi 
tion  in  line  of  battle,  about  half  a  mile  to  the  right  of  Sugar- 
loaf  Mountain,  in  front  of  the  Taneytown  road,  the  60th  con 
necting  with  the  right  of  the  1st  Corps,  where  they  threw  up 
entrenchments  connecting  with  the  102d  N.  Y.  Vols.,  on  the 
right.  The  men  worked  with  a  will,  and  had,  by  9  A.  M., 
completed  a  breastwork,  that  commanded  the  brow  of  a  pre 
cipitous  hill,  which,  on  the  right,  extended  to  low  ground. 
We  were  now  about  one  mile  from  the  enemy's  front.  Our 
men  were  permitted  to  lie  quietly  behind  their  stacks  of  arms, 
in  rear  of  the  works,  until  4  P.  M.  At  this  time,  discovering 
the  enemy  in  line,  supposed  to  be  about  one  Brigade  in 
strength,  General  Geary,  commanding  the  Division,  placed 
four  guns  in  position,  which  opened  on  the  rebels,  and  drove 
them  from  sight.  The  fire,  however,  was  returned,  and  some 
of  the  cannoniers,  having  been  wounded, 'were  replaced  by  men 
from  the  60th,  who  understood  artillery  practice.  About  5 
o'clock,  all  was  quiet  on  that  part  of  the  line,  and  remained  so 
until  7  o'clock,  when  the  rebel  infantry  advanced  in  force ; 
our  skirmishers  falling  back,  unmasked  our  line,  which  opened 
upon  the  enemy,  at  close  range,  a  most  destructive  fire  for 
about  four  hours.  The  fire  of  the  enemy  being  somewhat 
slackened,  a  portion  of  the  regiment  was  ordered  forward. 
The  men  eagerly  leaped  the  works  and  surrounded  fifty-six  of 
the  enemy,  including  two  officers,  whom  they  brought  in  as 
prisoners.  They  also  captured  a  Brigade  battle-flag,  said  to 
belong  to  Jones'  Brigade,  and  one  regimental  banner,  which, 
as  we  learn  from  one  of  our  prisoners,  was  a  present  from  the 


CHANCELLORSVILLE    AND    GETTYSBURG.  2G1 

1 

ladies  of  the  district  in  which  the  companies  were  organized. 
Seven  rebel  officers  we  found  dead  on  the  ground  covered  by 
the  colors  and  guard.  Th'e  capture  of  these  flags  and  prisoners 
shows  how  desperate  a  defence  our  men  made.  The  effects  of 
our  fire  were  so  terrible  that  the  flags  were  abandoned,  and 
the  prisoners  were  afraid  to  either  advance  or  retreat.  The 
color-bearers  were  both  killed.  One  of  them  had  advanced 
within  twenty  paces  of  our  breastworks.  The  officers  and 
men,  on  the  arrival  of  these  trophies,  were  greatly  cheered 
and  encouraged.  They  felt  as  though  they  had  done  a  good 
thing. 

The  ammunition  had  to  be  replenished  several  times,  which 
was  promptly  done.  The  regiment  was  not  entirely  out  of 
ammunition  but  once.  On  the  discovery  of  this  fact,  Colonel 
Godard  ordered  them  to  fix  bayonets,  which  they  did,  and  in 
that  position  waited  until  they  were  again  supplied. 

Great  coolness  was  displayed  by  both  officers  and  men.  Our 
loss,  during  this  night's  action,  was  nine  men  killed,  and  six 
teen  wounded.  About  midnight  the  firing  almost  ceased,  ex 
cept  by  sharpshooters  and  skirmishers — which  was  kept  up 
until  daylight — when  we  were  enabled  to  discover  large  num 
bers  of  the  rebel  dead  within  fifty  feet  of  our  line.  The  regi 
ment,  in  the  action,  consisted  of  Colonel  Godard,  commanding 
regiment,  Lieutenant  Nolen,  Acting  Adjutant,  16  line  officers, 
and  255  enlisted  men.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Redington  was 
Brigade  officer  of  the  day  on  the  2d ;  but  did  not,  after  the 
pickets  and  skirmishers  came  in,  report  to  the  regiment  as  he 
should  have  done,  and  consequently  did  not  take  part  in  the 
action.  Irregular  picket-firing  continued  until  4  A.  M., 
on  the  3d,  when  the  enemy  again  advanced,  and  heavy  firing 
opened  on  both  sides,  and  continued  until  10 \  A.  M.,  the 
enemy  being  steadily  held  in  check,  at  which  time  they  re 
tired,  leaving  only  sharpshooters,  who  kept  up  an  irregular 
fire  during  the  day.  At  2  P.  M.,  the  regiment  was  relieved 
for  an  hour,  when  they  again  returned  to  the  entrenchments, 


262  CHANCELLORSVILLE   AND    GETTYSBURG. 

» 

and  remained  until  2  A.  M.,  July  4th.  During  the  battle, 
on  the  3d,  we  lost  two  enlisted  men  killed,  and  nineteen 
wounded,  and  two  lieutenants :  Lieutenant  Stanly,  severely 
through  the  head,  which  proved  fatal  on  the  7th  day  of  July, 
and  Lieutenant  B.  T.  Bordwell,  (formerly  Quartermaster-Ser 
geant,)  through  the  foot,  from  which  he  has  not  yet  (Septem 
ber  1st)  recovered. 

The  60th,  it  will  be  observed,  was  on  the  extreme  left  of 
the  12th  Corps,  and  joining  on  the  right  of  the  1st  Corps. 
The  flags  were  properly  inscribed  with  the  record  of  capture, 
and  forwarded  to  headquarters.  It  may  not  be  inappropriate 
to  speak  of  the  3d  Brigade,  of  which  the  60th  forms  a  part, 
commanded  by  General  George  S.  Greene,  and  the  honorable 
part  it  performed  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  The  universal 
praise  awarded  it  is  justly  due.  The  credit  cannot  be  subdi 
vided.  The  regiments  comprising  it  are  the  60th,  78th,  102d, 
137th,  and  the  149th,  New  York  Volunteers,  containing  within 
their  organizations  as  good  and  sound  men  as  ever  the  Empire 
State  sent  to  the  war.  This  Brigade  was  on  the  left  of  the 
12th  Corps.  The  2d  Brigade  of  the  2d  Division  was  on  our 
right.  Thrown  forward,  at  a  right  angle,  on  the  crest  of  a  hill 
in  front,  was  a  heavy  growth  of  timber,  freed  from  under 
growth,  with,  occasionally,  ledges  of  rocks.  These  afforded  a 
good  cover  for  marksmen.  The  first  duty,  after  getting  into 
position,  was  to  entrench,  which,  by  noon  on  the  2d,  was  suc 
cessfully  accomplished ;  having  constructed  a  breastwork  of 
such  material  as  was  found  convenient — earth,  stone,  and 
logs.  This  work  subsequently  proved  of  great  service,  as  by 
its  assistance  a  vastly  superior  force  was  kept  in  check.  At 
about  6£  P.  M.,  the  12th  Corps  was  withdrawn  from  the  line 
for  some  purpose,  and  General  Greene  directed  to  occupy  the 
whole  front  of  the  corps  with  the  3d  Brigade,  which  order  he 
was  attempting  tQ^carry  out,  and  had  placed  the  137th  New 
York  in  the  trenches  occupied  by  the  2d  Brigade,  when  the 
whole  line  was  attacked.  This  was  at  about  7  o'clock.  At  8 


CHANCELLORSVILLE   AND    GETTYSBURG.  263 

o'clock  the  enemy  succeeded  in  gaining  the  entrenchments  on 
the  right,  in  the  portion  of  the  line  formerly  occupied  by  the 
1st  (General  Williams')  Division,  which  was  nearly  perpen 
dicular  to  the  line  of  the  2d  Brigade,  now  occupied  by  the 
137th.     The  enemy  attacked  our  right  flank,  while  also  at 
tacking  in  front.     This  necessitated  the  changing  of  the  front 
of  the  137th,  which  was  successfully  done  under  fire.     Four  . 
separate  and  distinct  charges  were  made  on  our  line  before  9£ 
o'clock,  which  were  effectually  resisted.     The   situation  be 
coming  critical,  one  regiment  was  sent  to  its  support,  which 
was  placed  on  our  right,  ("  The  California  Kegiment,")  but 
was  soon  withdrawn,  ?  Caving  the  right,  as  before,  very  much 
exposed.     Subsequently,  reinforcements  were   received   from 
General  Wadsworth's  Division  of  the  1st  Corps,  and  from  the 
llth  Corps — about  350  men  from  the  former,  and  400  from 
the  latter — who  rendered  important  aid,  relieving  the  men,  so 
that  they  could  clean  their  guns,  and  replenish  their  cartridge- 
boxes,  which  they  had  entirely  relieved  of  ammunition.     At 
the  close  of  the  attack  the  Brigade  held  its  position.     At  1  fc 
A.  M.,  on  the  3d,  the  right  was  reinforced  by  the  return  of  the 
1st  Brigade  of  the  2d  Division,  who  took  position  in  support 
of  the  right  of  the  3d  Brigade.     Artillery  was  placed  in  posi 
tion  to  attack  that  portion  of  the  rebel  forces  then  occupying 
our  entrenchments  on  the  right;  and  at  4  A.M.  opened  on 
them,  and  the  attack  was  general  on  our  whole  line,  lasting 
until  10j  o'clodk,  when  the  enemy  was  driven  back;  all  re 
tiring,  except  their  pickets.     During  this  attack  the  fire  was 
kept  up  constantly  and  efficiently  along  the  whole  line.     The 
enemy  having  been  early  driven  from  the  trenches,  .they  were 
again  occupied  by  the  2d  Brigade,  and  the  1st  Division. 

The  men  were  relieved  occasionally  by  others,  with  a  fresh 
supply  of  ammunition  and  clean  arms.  The  relief  going  for 
ward  at  the  double  quick  with  cheers,  and  the  troops  relieved 
falling  back  through  their  files,  when  they  arrived  in  the 


2G4  CHANCELLORSVILLE    AND    GETTYSBURG. 

trenches.    The  men,  by  this  means,  were  comparatively  fresh, 
and  their  arms  in  good  order. 

Captain  A.  B.  Shipman  served  on  the  General's  staff  as  an 
Inspector-General,  and  Lieutenant  C.  T.  Green  as  Aid-de- 
Camp.  The  Brigade  contained  about  1300  men.  The  loss 
of  the  enemy  greatly  exceeded  ours.  We  found,  after  the 
action  in  our  front,  of  their  dead  391,  and  there  were,  across 
the  creek,  a  number  of  dead,  estimated  at  150,  making  a  total 
of  541.  We  picked  up  2000  muskets,  of  which  at  least  1700 
must  have  belonged  to  the  enemy,  showing  clearly  a  loss,  on 
their  part,  of  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  in  addition  to  those 
who  may  have  carried  their  arms  off  the  field,  estimated  at 
500,  and,  including  180  prisoners  captured,  of  2400  men. 
Their  loss  in  officers  was  heavy.  The  troops  opposed  to  us 
proved  to  be  Johnson's  Division,  of  Swell's  Corps,  in  the  night 
attack  of  the  2d;  and  the  same  Division,  reinforced  by 
Rhodes'  Brigade,  on  the  3d.  General  Johnson's  Assistant 
Adjutant-General  was  killed,  and  left  on  the  field. 
Casualties  were  as  follows : 

Officers  killed  6  Enlisted  Men       56 

«       Wounded,    10  "          "        203 

"       Missing,          1  «          «          31 


Total  17  Total  290 

Total  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  307. 

The  2d  Division  (General  Geary)  did  well,  and  the  1st 
Division  (General  Williams')  maintained  its  reputation  ;  and, 
in  fact,  the  12th  Corps,  individually  and  collectively,  per 
formed  a  duty  that  entitles  them  all  to  the  lasting  gratitude 
of  the  nation.  All  performed  their  part  nobly,  and,  animated 
by  one  common  feeling  of  patriotism  and  brotherhood,  vied 
with  each  other  in  deeds  of  valor,  in  vindication  of  our  glori 
ous  nationality,  which  is  dearer  to  them  than  life — made 
doubly  dear  by  the  sacrifices  already  made  for  it,  increasing 
their  attachment  to  that  dear  old  flag,  the  emblem  of  our 


CHANCELLORSVILLE    AND    GETTYSBURG.  265 

country's  freedom,  independence,  and  greatness,  attained 
under  it. 

The  apparently  victorious  invasion  of  Maryland  and  Penn 
sylvania,  by  General  Lee  and  his  rebel  hordes,  occasioned  the 
greatest  alarm  in  the  vicinity  of  his  route,  and  filled  the  whole 
country  with  the  most  serious  apprehension.  I  may  say  the 
country  was  paralyzed  with  fear  at  this  powerful  but  sudden 
demonstration  ;  but  not  so  with  the  glorious  "  Old  Army  of 
the  Potomac."  They  felt  strong  in  a  mighty  purpose — to 
subdue  and  humble  the  proud  and  haughty  invader,  whom 
they  had  met  under  so  many  disadvantages  in  his  strongholds 
— where  reverses  had  been  experienced.  They  felt  that  the 
tide  in  their  affairs  was  changing,  and  that  in  the  impending 
battle  they  would  be  successful.  That  Lee,  venturing  so 
much,  would  lose  all.  Former  delays  and  reverses  but  stimu 
lated  their  determination  to  win  this  time.  They  felt  that 
they  had  never  been  beaten,  that  the  real  strength  of  the 
army  had  not  been  tested.  Their  great  anxiety,  therefore, 
was  for  a  General,  who  would  so  place  them  as  to  bring  out 
their  strength,  and  test  their  courage.  Providence  answered 
the  desire  of  their  hearts,  and  gave  them  a  commander  who 
led  them  as  they  desired,  although  they  knew  him  not. 

General  Meade,  a  comparative  stranger  to  all  except  his 
own  Corps,  led  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  to  the  first  decided 
victory  it  ever  achieved.  This  against  vastly  superior  num 
bers,  under  command  of  the  most  skilful  and  accomplished 
General  who  has  ever  drawn  his  sword  in  the  cause  of  the 
unholy  rebellion,  and  within  eight  days  after  assuming  com 
mand  of  the  army  while  in  motion  and  en  route  to  Pennsyl 
vania  to  attack  the  enemy.  The  result  of  this  battle  most 
clearly  demonstrates  the  fact  that  the  soldiers  of  this  army  are 
self-reliant,  having  their  confidence  .placed  in  the  cause  they 
have  espoused,  the  ultimate  triumph  of  the  right,  and  their 
ability  to  maintain  both.  This  is  what  makes  them  obedient 
to  proper  authority,  and  ready  to  do  their  duty,  whoever  may 


266  CHANCELLORSVILLE    AND    GETTYSBURG. 

command.  It  does  not  need  a  special  favorite  General,  as 
many  foolishly  and  ignorantly  declare,  to  inspire  them  to  deeds 
of  valor.  They  will  fight  under  any  and  all  circumstances  to 
vindicate  their  national  honor — and,  when  properly  led,  win 
victories. 

July  5th.  It  having  been  ascertained  that  the  rebels  had 
fallen  back  towards  Williamsport,  Md.,  we  took  up  our  line  of 
march  in  that  direction,  by  way  of  Frederick  City.  "We  ar 
rived  at  Littletown  about  4  P.  M.,  encamped  for  the  night  and 
received  rations ;  and,  at  an  early  hour  on  the  6th,  moved  on 
until  we  arrived  at  Woodsborough,  where  we  halted  for  the 
night. 

July  7th.  Moved  to  Frederick  City,  where  the  train  moving 
from  Westminster,  had  preceded  us.  The  weather  began  to 
get  bad,  but,  as  we  were  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  we  were 
compelled  to  keep  moving.  We  pursued  through  Frederick, 
and  moved  up  towards  Middletown,  on  the  pike,  about  one 
mile  and  a  half,  where  we  halted  until  noon,  when  we  filed  off 
to  the  left,  crossing  the  fields  to  the  Harper's  Ferry  road. 
Here  we  passed  a  man  hanging  by  the  neck  to  an  oak  tree ; 
and,  upon  inquiring,  learned  that  he  was  one  Richardson,  who 
had  been  convicted  as  a  Spy,  and  hung  the  day  before.  He 
had  been  through  all  our  camps  as  a  book  and  map  peddler, 
for  nearly  a  year,  and  had,  undoubtedly  furnished  the  enemy 
a  great  deal  of  information.  He  was,  when  detected,  pre 
paring  to  lead  the  enemy's  cavalry  upon  our  train,  whose  loca 
tion  he  had  learned — its  detachment  from  the  army,  and  the 
smallness  of  its  guard.  He  had  on  his  person  the  most  con 
clusive  testimony  of  his  guilt.  It  was  said,  but  I  do  not  know 
with  how  much  truth,  the  order  condemning  him  to  be  thus 
executed,  ordered  that  he  should  remain  suspended  for  three 
days,  and  should  any  friend,  during  that  time,  attempt  to  cut 
him  down,  he  should  be  hung  in  his  place.  I  learned  that 
after  the  three  days,  he  was  buried,  uncoffined,  under  the 
tree  upan  which  he  was  suspended.  Thus  may  they  all  perish 


CHANCELLORSVILLE    AND    GETTYSBURG.  267 

who,  while  they  pretend  to  be  the  friends  of  the  Government, 
seek,  with  unholy  hands,  to  destroy  it ! 

We  moved  on  towards  Harper's  Ferry  as  far  as  Jefferson, 
when  we  turned  northward  towards  Burkittsville,  and  en 
camped  about  one  mile  north  of  Jefferson. 

On  the  8th,  we  moved  on  past  Burkittsville,  crossing  South 
Mountain  at  Crampton's  Pass,  and  encamped  at  night  near 
llohersville.  The  train  was  ordered  to  halt  on  the  south  side 
of  the  mountain,  and  did  not  subsequently  move  any  further 
in  that  direction.  On  the  9th,  we  moved  by  way  of  Boons- 
boro',  to  within  two  miles  of  Fairplay,  where  we  spent  the  day 
entrenching,  but,  on  the  next  morning,  moved  on  to  Fairplay, 
and  again  entrenched  ourselves,  expecting  to  have  a  brush 
with  Lee.  Every  preparation  was  made  for  a  desperate  con 
flict.  The  en^my  strongly  entrenched  themselves,  having 
selected  their  position  and  thrown  up  defences.  While  Gen. 
Meade  was  bringing  up  his  reinforcements  within  supporting 
distance,  and  ascertaining  the  situation  of  the  enemy,  General 
Lee  was  preparing  to  cross  the  river,  having  improvised  a 
bridge,  and  just  the  night  before  the  advance  of  our  line  was 
ordered,  succeeded  in  recrossing  the  river  in  comparative 
safety,  losing  only  1500  of  his  rear-guard  at  Falling  Waters. 
Our  soldiers  were  very  much  chagrined  at  the  enemy's  escape. 

On  the  12th,  your  friend  Charlie  arrived  from  his  home  in 
the  West,  and,  on  the  13th,  Adjutant  Lester  S.  Willson  re 
turned,  although  not  fit  for  duty,  but  anxious  to  join  in  the 
expected  battle;  and,  instead  of  remaining  with  the  train, 
pushed  on  to  Boonsboro'  and  Fairplay.  This  morning,  the 
rebels  were  discovered  to  be  retreating,  when  the  cavalry 
pushed  forward  to  William^port  and  Falling  Waters,  capturing 
a  portion  of  their  rear-guard,  as  before  mentioned.  The  12th 
Corps  then  retraced  its  steps  to  Kohersville,  and  then  moved 
to  Sandy  Hook,  by  way  of  Harper's  Ferry,  arriving  there  on 
the  morning  of  the  15th. 

We  regained  here  to  rest  the  men  and  recruit  the  animals, 


263  CHANCELLORSVILLE    AND    GETTYSBURG. 

and  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  the  command  with  clothing, 
until  the  morning  of  the  18th,  when  we  again  resumed  our 
march. 

That  morning,  Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  C.  0.  Redington  left 
the  command,  having  tendered  his  resignation  on  the  7th.  Its 
acceptance  was  heartily  recommended  by  intermediate  com 
manders.  The  Corps  commander,  General  Slocum,  accepted 
it,  and  it  was  returned,  through  the  proper  channels,  on  the 
morning  of  the  18th,  and  he  became  a  civilian,  no  doubt  to  his 
entire  satisfaction,  and  with  no  detriment  to  the  service,  nor 
feeling  of  regret  on  the  part  of  the  regiment.  It  may  be  here 
remarked  that  the  necessities  of  the  time  made  it  impossible  to 
make  the  best  selections  for  positions  in  the  army.  All 
coming  from  civil  life,  and  without  having  their  attention 
turned  in  a  military  direction,  have  accepted  men  as  comman 
ders  who  have  been  entirely  unfitted  for  the  positions  which 
they  sought,  and  not  unfrequently  obtained.  It  is  only  by  a 
protracted  war  that  men  can  be  properly  educated  in  its  arts. 

We  crossed  the  Potomac  on  a  pontoon  bridge  just  above 
the  railroad  bridge  at  Harper's  Ferry,  and  also  the  Shenan- 
doah  river  on  a  wire  bridge,  moving  around  the  Loudon 
Heights  and  up  the  Loudon  valley,  arriving  and  encamping 
for  the  night  within  about  three  miles  of  Hillsborough. 
Harper's  Ferry  seemed  almost  deserted  of  its  inhabitants, 
they  having  left  when  the  place  was  evacuated  by  General 
French's  command.  In  the  afternoon,  foraging  parties  were 
sent  out  with  a  strong  guard,  for  the  purpose  of  getting  all 
the  serviceable  horses  in  the  vicinity  of.  the  encampment.  A 
considerable  number  was  thus  received,  which  were  turned 
into  the  Quartermaster's  Department.  The  19th,  we  moved 
early  in  the  morning,  turning  off  to  the  right,  taking  what  is 
called  the  mountain  road,  along  the  base  of  the  Blue  Ridge, 
to  Snickerville,  opposite  Snicker's  Gap,  where  we  arrived  be 
fore  dark,— a  distance  of  fifteen  miles;  the  last  five  miles 
was  on  the  Winchester  and  Leeeburg  Turnpike.*  This  re- 


CHANCELLORSVILLE   AND   GETTYSBURG.  269 

gion  was,  to  a  large  extent,  infested  with  guerillas,  who  were 
watching  our  movements,  picking  up  stragglers,  and  capturing 
any  stray  wagons  or  sutlers'  trains  that  might  be  accidentally 
,  left  behind.  Strict  orders  were  therefore  issued  against  strag 
gling,  foraging,  etc.  Remained  at  this  place  during  the  20th, 
when,  finding  our  presence  not  needed,  we  again  moved,  on 
the  2]st,  toward  Ashby's  Gap,  the  rebel  forces  having  moved 
up  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  and  threatening  to  force  the  Blue 
Ridge  at  some  point  not  known  to  our  Commanding  Gene 
rals.  We  arrived  at  Paris,  which  is  situated  just  south  of 
Ashby's  Gap,  at  about  four  o'clock,  having  marched  nearly 
twenty  miles.  Finding  that  the  enemy  had  moved  still  far 
ther  up  the  valley,  at  five,  P.  M.,  we  again  moved,  reaching 
Markham  Station,  on  the  Manassas  Gap  railroad.  On  the 
22d,  the  troops  were  pushed  rapidly  forward,  accompanied 
only  by  the  ambulances  and  ammunition  train,  in  anticipation 
of  a  battle  with  the  enemy;  a  part  of  the  3d  Corps  having 
been  engaged  the  night  before  at  what  is  called  Wapping 
Heights.  The  enemy  were  driven  from  the  Heights  with 
great  loss  in  men ;  and  a  large  number  of  cattle  and  sheep 
fell  into  our  hands.  During  the  night,  however,  the  enemy 
fell  back,  and  moved  on  through  Front  Royal.  The  General, 
finding  that  they  had  again  escaped,  changed  direction  and 
movoi  towards  Rectortown,  arriving  at  Thoroughfare  Gap  on 
the  night  of  the  23d,  having  passed  through  White  Plains. 

The  24th,  continued  our  'march  by  way  of  Haymarket, 
which  is  now  in  ruins,  to  the  Alexandria  and  Warrenton 
Pike,  when  we  bore  to  the  right,  and  moved,  by  way  of  Cat- 
lett's  Station,  to  Warrenton  Junction,  where  we  arrived  about 
sunset.  The  men  were  permitted  to  remain  here  and  rest 
until  the  31st.  While  here,  they  were  again  supplied  with 
clothing,  and  received  full  rations.  Major  Thomas  returned 
to  us  while  here,  and  Charlie  left  again  for  home.  On 
the  31st,  we  moved,  by  way  of  Morrisville,  to  Ellis'  Ford,  on 
the  Rappahannock  River,  about  five  miles  below  Kelly's  Ford, 
23* 


270  CHANCELLORSVILLE    AND    GETTSYBURQ. 

and  ten  miles  below  Rappahannock  Station,  and  arrived  at  the 
point  of  destination  at  twelve,  midnight. 

Nothing  of  special  importance  transpired  during  the  month 
of   August  outside   of  camp  duty  and  picketing  along   the. 
river :  the  enemy  doing  the  same  on  the  opposite  side.     This 
country  being  almost  destitute  of  hay  or  grass,  it  was  almost 
impossible  to  procure  a  sufficient  quantity  of  that  kind  of 
forage  to  keep  the  animals  from  suffering.     There  was  some 
on  the  other  side,  which  the  Quartermasters  watched  with 
jealous  eyes,  and  unavailingly,  for  a  long  time,  endeavored  to 
obtain  permission  to  cross  the  river  and  take  it;  the  rebs, 
at  the  same  time,  having  all  they  needed,  coming  without  fear 
of  molestation,  even  calling  to  our  men  on  this  side  to  "  fall 
in  for  rations  of  hay."     At  length  General  Geary,  command 
ing  Division,  gave  permission,  and  planting  two  pieces  of  ar 
tillery  commanding  the  meadows  and  barns  on  the  other  side, 
ordered  the  78th  across,  with  the  60th  as  a  reserve.     The  78th 
crossed  in  a  scow,  and  immediately  deployed  as  skirmishers, 
and  moved  about  half  a  mile  from  the  river,  covering  the 
field  containing  the  hay.      The  rebel  pickets,  as  soon  as  they 
discovered  the  attempt  to  cross,  fired  their  carbines  at  the 
Lieutenant-Colonel  in  command  of  the  78th,  mounted  their 
horses,  and  fled  to  the  woods  beyond,  probably  a  mile  distant. 
The  Quartermasters,  and  the  teamsters,  and  the  extr^duty- 
men  in    the    Q.  M.    Department,    mounted    on    horses    and 
mules,  forded  the  river,  and  rushing  for  the  field  and  barns, 
tied  up  large  bundles,  and,  putting  them  on  the  backs  of  their 
animals,  recrossed   the   river   with   their    loads,    and   again 
crossed,  until  the  whole  amount  was  brought  over,  besides 
capturing  ten  head  of  beef  cattle  and  three  horses.     The  re 
call  was  sounded,  when  the  entire  force  of  Quartermasters, 
etc.,  with  the  78th,  recrossed  with  safety.    There  were,  how 
ever,  two  butchers  who,  espying  some  cattle  just  on  the  edge 
of  the  woods  beyond,  remained  behind ;  and,  not  hearing  the 
bugle,  were  attempting  to  drive  the  cattle  towards  the  ford, 


CHANCELLORSVILLE   AND    GETTYSBURG.  271 

when  they  were  charged  upon  by  a  squad  of  rebel  cavalry, 
who  fired  several  shots  at  them.  The  butchers,  being  un 
armed,  fled  towards  the  ford,  pursued  by  the  rebs,  who  called 
upon  them  to  halt  and  dismount,  which  they  disregarded 
un-til  they  came  to  a' gate,  near  the  barn,  which  was  so  fast 
ened  that  they  could  not  open  it  in  time  to  escape;  so  they 
dismounted,  jumped  the  fence,  and,  their  pursuers  being  un 
able  to  jump  the  fence  with  their  horses,  gave  up  the  chase, 
capturing,  of  course,  the  two  horses.  It  created  a  good  deal 
of  excitement  on  this  side,  as  the  whole  transaction  took  place 
in  an  open  field  in  plain  view. 

At  this  date,  (September  1st,)  the  health  of  the  regiment 
is  good,  the  spirits  of  the  men  never  better.  The  men  seem 
contented,  and  the  only  real  complaint  made  by  them  is 
against  those  at  home,  who,  if  they  do  not  really  sympathize 
with  the  rebels,  give  them  aid  and  comfort,  by  resistance  to 
the  draft,  discouraging  enlistments,  and  talking  of  compro 
mising  with  the  insurgents  in  arms.  The  fire  of  patriotism 
burns  as  brightly  in  their  bosoms  to-day  as  at  any  former 
period.  The  regiment  may  well  feel  proud  of  its  labors,  and 
the  honorable  part  performed  by  it  during  the  war,  thus  far, 
and  it  will  continue,  as  heretofore,  to  give  a  hearty  and  will 
ing  support  to  the  Government ;  not  as  eye-servants  and  time- 
servers,  but  as  true  patriots,  desiring  nothing  so  much  as  an 
honorable  peace,  and,  with  it,  the  glory  and  honor  of  the 
country.  - 

Fraternally  and  affectionately,  yours, 

E.  A-.  MERRITT. 

To  the  abo\ce  I  wish  to  add  the  following : 

On  the  20th  of  February,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Redington 
^placed  Captain  J.  H.  Jones 'in  arrest,  on  the  following 
charges : 

I.  Disobedience  of  orders. 


272    %          CHANCELLORSVILLE    AND    GETTYSBURG. 

,      ' 

II.  Disrespectful  and  contemptuous  conduct    towards   his 
commanding  officer. 

III.  Conduct  subversive  of  good  order  and  discipline,  tend 
ing  to  mutiny. 

IV.  Conduct  unbecoming  an  officer  and  a  gentleman. 

The  limits  of  confinement,  while  in  arrest,  were  the  regi 
mental  camp,  and  a  circular  line  about  it  sufficient  for 
exercise. 

While  in  this  limbo,  Captain  Jones  preferred  a  much  longer 
list  of  charges  against  the  Lieutenant-Colonel.  I  have  no  copy 
of  them,  but  understand  that  some  eight  or  ten  things  were 
specified,  among  which  was  incapacity,  and  making  false 
reports  to  his  superior  officers. 

A  sort  of  Kilkenny  cat  fight  was  generally  anticipated,  if 
the  parties  should  be  brought  to  trial ;  but  as  Jones  was  a 
preacher,  and  Redington  was  the  son  of  one,  it  providentially 
happened  that  a  brother  clergyman  appeared  on  the  scene  be 
fore  the  trials  were  ordered,  and,  through  his  influence,  mu 
tual  confessions  were  made,  and  a  prayer-meeting  quashed  the 
prpceedings ! 

The  State  authorities  in  Albany  asked  for  a  list  of  those 
who  had  distinguished  themselves  for  bravery  and  general 
efficiency,  that  their  names  might  be  entered  on  a  Roll  of 
Honor  then  being  made  up. 

The  Lieutenant-Colonel,  under  date  of  March  7th,  sent  the 
following  list : 

Lieutenant  Hobart,  Co.  "  C." 
Sergeant  James  0.  Fitch,  Co.  "A." 
Sergeant  C.  SvCummings,  Co.  «  B." 
Sergeant  W.  S.  Gourley,  Co.  "  C."  , 
Private  Richard  Taylor,  Co.  "  D." 
Sergeant  A.  N.  Skin7,  Co.  "E." 
*    Private  Benjamin  Preno,  Co.  "  H." 

Some  of  these  were  really  deserving  all  the  honors  that 
could  thus  be  given ;  others  had*  no  claim  whatever,  except 


* 

CHANCELLORSVILLE   AND    GETTYSBURG.  273 

that  they  belonged,  with  the  commanding  officer,  to  a  mutual 
tickling  society !  while  a  score  of  brave  men  were  passed  by 
unnoticed. 

A  number  of  the  proceedings  in  those  days  were  very  sin 
gular.  Captain  Robertson  was  arrested,  and  placed  in  close 
confinement,  but  no  charges  were  sent  up  against  him.  Gene 
ral  Greene  sent  several  verbal  messages  to  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Redington  that  charges  must  be  made  out,  or  Captain  Robert 
son  should  be  ordered  to  duty.  No  attention  being  paid  to 
these,  the  General  sent  a  written  order,  fixing  a  time,  on  the 
expiration  of  which,  if  no  charges  were  sent  up,  he  should 
order  the  release  of  the  prisoner.  When  the  time  came  round 
the  order  for  release  came  with  it,  and  was  obeyed. 

It  must  have  been  at,  or  near  this  time,  I  think,  that  the 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  in  response  to  a  request  from  Albany,  for 
flags  worn  out  in  the  service,  sent  our  State '  banner,  which 
never  was  carried  into  battle,  but,  long  before  we  went  into 
any  engagement,  had  been  battered  to  pieces  by  the  winds  and 
storms,  to  that  city  as  a  relic  of  the  war.  Colonel  James  has 
furnished  me  with  a  pamphlet  describing  the  ceremonies  at 
the  Capital  on  the  presentation  of  this  and  other  flags  to  the 
Legislature,  and  in  that  I  find  the  following  on  page  20 : 

"COLORS  OF  THE  60TH  REGIMENT,  N.  Y.  S.  V. 

"  This  regiment,  known  as  '  THE  OGDENSBURGH  REGIMENT/  was 
originally  commanded  by  Colonel  Wm.  B.  Hayward,  who  soon 
after  resigned,  and  was  raised  in  St.  Lawrence  County,  com 
prising,  at  date  of  departure,  November  4th,  1861,  1000  men. 

"  Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  C.  0.  Redington  is  now  in  command  of 
this  regiment,  which,  at  present,  numbers  about  600  men.  It 
has  participated  in  the  battle  of  Cedar  Mountain,  where  30  men 
were  killed,  and  73  wounded.  Four  of  the  Color  Guard  were 
shot  down  on  the  field  while  bearing  their  colors.  The  regiment 
held  the  field  until  their  ammunition  was  exhausted,  the  men 
using  the  cartridges  and  guns  of  the  dead  and  wounded.  The 
regiment  was  commanded  here  by  Major  J.  E.  Lane.  This  regi- 


274  CHANCELLORSVILLE   AND    GETTYSBURG. 

ment  participated  in  the  battles  of  the  last  Bull  Run,  Sulphur 
Springs,  and  Antietam,  in  which  it  lost  63  in  killed  and 
wounded. 

"  Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  C.  0.  Redington  transmits  the  banner, 
to  be  deposited  with  the  State." 

There  is  very  little  truth,  but  a  great  many  errors,  in  the 
above.  The  60th  never  was  known  as  "The  Ogdensburgh 
Regiment,"  but  in  Adjutant-General  Hillhouse's  Report  for 
1862,  p.  548,  is  called  "The  First  St.  Lawrence  County  Regi 
ment."  We  did  not  have  anything  to  do  with  the  battle  of 
Cedar  Mountain,  being,  at  the  time  of  that  fight,  at  Sulphur 
Springs,  fighting  the  typhus  fever ;  a  much  more  unmanage 
able  foe  than  the  rebels  have  proved  to  be.  Major  J.  E.  Lane 
never,  for  one  moment,  had  command  of  us.  Our  wagons 
drew  ammunition  to  the  field  at  "  the  last  Bull  Run  battle," 
and  that  is  all  the  part  we  had  in  that.  At  "Sulphur 
Springs"  we  had,  under  circumstances  mentioned  in  Chapter 
X.,  one  man  wounded.  At  Antietam,  as  stated  in  Chapter 
XL,  we  lost,  in  killed  and  wounded,  22. 

•  .  •  *• 

LIS'f-OF  CASUALTIES  AT  THE  BATTLE  OF  CHANCEL 
LORSVILLE,  THIRD  OF  MAY,  18G3. 

Major  W.  M.  Thomas,  slightly  in  left  hand. 
Adjutant  Lester  S.  Willson,  wounded  in  thigh. 

COMPANY  "A." 

Corporal  Samuel  C.  Haskcll,  killed. 

Private  Lewis  Lcgnea,  killed. 

Sergeant  Michael  Crowley,  wounded  severely  in  knee. 

Private  Elliott  A.  Bissell,  missing. 

Private  Winfield  S.  Carpenter,  missing. 

• 

COMPANY  "  B." 

Corporal  John  H.  Loan,  wounded. 


CHANCELLORSVILLE   AND   GETTYSBURG.  275 

Private  Daniel  Graves,  wounded. 
Private  George  Demmons,  wounded. 
Private  George  Wells,  wounded. 
Sergeant  A.  D.  Lawyer,  missing. 
Corporal  Martin  Russell,      " 
Private  John  Duncan,          " 
Private  Luther  Peck,  " 


Corporal  Sylvanus  Backus,  wounded. 
Private  Sylvanus  Corbyn,  " 
Private  John  R.  Crawford,  « 
Private  Lyman  D.  McDaid,  " 
Private  Norman  Vroman,  " 
Private  George  Webber^  " 

COMPANY  "D.'' 

Private  Sylvester  Tupper,  killed. 

Private  Wesley  Oliver,          " 

Corporal  Julius  Palmer,  wounded  slightly. 

COMPANY   "E." 

% 

Private  John  Mooney,  killed. 

Sergeant  James  0.  Raymond,  wounded,  leg  amputated. 

Private  Frank  Wood,  severely  in  arm. 

Private  H.  M.  Chase,  dangerously  in  hip. 

Private  George  H.  Davenport,  severely  in  arm. 

Private  Frank  'Gonia,  "         in  head. 

COMPANY   "P." 

Private  Wm.  P.  Hulitt,  killed. 
Captain  Thomas  Elliott,  wounded  slightly. 
Sergeant  Lewis  Carnithan,      "       severely. 
Corporal  R.  J.  Fredenburgh,  "  " 

"         E.  R.  Turner,          «       slightly. 

"     .   James  Cohklin,         «          " 


276  CHANCELLORSVILLE   AND   GETTYSBURG* 

Corporal  Henry  Stewart,  wounded  slightly. 

"         James  Chilton,         "  " 

Private  George  Radigan,        "  mortally. 

"       George  Sayres,  "  slightly. 

"       George  Stewart,         "  " 

Sergeant  J.  R.  Fiefield,  missing. 
Private  James  Chambers,    " 

COMPANY   "G." 

Private  John  McNamarra,  killed. 
Sergeant  Andrew  J.  Loomis,  wounded.  . 

COMPANY  "H." 

Private  Lester  M.  Bond,  killed. 
Sergeant  Henry  Myers,  wounded  slightly. 

"         P.  H.  Brockway,    "  " 

Corporal  George  Ploof,          "        severely. 
Private  David  Nichols,          "  " 

"       Benjamin  Preno,  missing. 

"       Joseph  Stone,  " 

COMPANY   UI." 

Sergeant  Charles  M.  Gray,  wounded  slightly  in  hand 
Private  Lewis  C.  Griffin,  wounded  in  hip. 

"       Palmer  Hartson,         "  ankle. 

"       Chauncey  0.  Pease,  missing. 

"       Charles  E.  Waist,      " 

.    COMPANY    "K." 

Sergeant  Martin  H.  Hay  wood,  mortally  wounded. 
Corporal  John  D.  Stevens,  wounded. 
Private  James  L.  Conklin,       "      \,  ., 
Corporal  Henry  A.  Parker,  missing. 

Total  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  61. 


CHANCELLORSVILLE    AND    GETTYSBURG.  277 

LIST  OF  CASUALTIES  AT  GETTYSBURG,  PA.,  ON  THE 
SECOND  AND  THIRD  DAYS  OF  JULY,  1863. 

COMPANY    "A." 

2d  Lieut.  Byron  T.  Bordwell,  wounded  severely  in  foot. 

Corp.  Philo  Stevenson,  killed. 

Private  M.  K.  Balconie,  wounded  slightly  in  hand. 

"        E.  L.  Crane,  "  "  hip. 

"        Peter  Gebo,  «  "  hand. 

"        Orin  Shepard,  wounded  severely  in  hip,  (since  died.) 

COMPANY  "B." 
Serg.  Daniel  Corbett,  killed. 
Private  Wm.  Johnson,  wounded  mortally. 

"         Frank  Shappie,       "         severely  in  neck. 

"        Wright  Works,       "  "  face. 

COMPANY   "c." 

Private  Edwin  Van  Tasselle,  killed. 
Corp.  J.  A.  Lasalle,  wounded. 
Private  John  Norton,      "       severely  in  head. 

COMPANY  "D." 
Serg.  Wm.  W.  Clark,  wounded  severely  in  breast. 

"      Jos.  Stevenson,         "  slightly  in  arm.   .   .    , 

Corp.  Milo  Furgerson,        "  "  hand. 

"      Solomon  Knapp,       "  "  leg. 

Private  Donald  Brown,      "  "  hand. 

«        Horace  Barnes,      "  «  « 

"        Geo.  W.  Clark,     «  "  face.  -  t 

COMPANY    "E." 

1st  Lieut.  M.  D.  Stanley,  wounded  mortally  in  head. 
Corp.  A.  H.  Wilcox,  "        slightly  in  hand. 

Private  George  Chancy,  "  "  hip. 

"        Joseph  Greeno,        "        severely  in  both  wrists. 
24 


278  CHANCELLORSVILLE    AND    GETTYSBURG. 

Private  Barnard  Moran,  wounded  slightly  in  leg. 
"        Michael  Shernden, «  "  face. 

"         Geo.  Washburn,      "        severely  in  shoulder. 
"        Stephen  Collins,      "        slightly  in  shoulder. 

COMPANY    "  P." 

Private  Hannibal  Downs,  killed. 

"        Charles  Santo,  wounded  severely  in  leg. 
"        Henry  Havens,      "        slightly  in  wrist. 

COMPANY    "G." 

Corp.  William  Miller,  killed. 

Private  Hiram  Meade,     " 

Corp.  Henry  McDowell,  wounded  severely  in  face. 

Private  Wm.  Keenan,  "  "  " 

"        George  Grant,          "  «" '         left  arm. 

COMPANY  "H." 

Private  Philetus  Ayres,  killed. 

"         John  Pickle,  wounded  severely  in  left  shoulder. 
1st  Serg.  Patrick  H.  Brockway,  wounded  slightly. 

COMPANY    "  I." 

Sergeant  Charles  M.  Gray,  killed. 
Corp.  Peter  McDonald,  " 

"      Amasa  A.  Lockwood,    " 
Private  Wm.  Murphy,  " 

"        Bateman  Fiske,  wounded  severely  in  both  hands. 

"        Philo  Sheldon,          "         slightly  in  face. 

COMPANY  "K." 

Corporal  John  Stewart,  wounded  slightly  in  finger. 
Private  Chas.  Aldous  "        severely  in  head. 

"        Jos.  Chapins,          "  "  arm. 

«        Dan'l  Chambers,     «  "  head. 

"        Alphonzo  Daniels,  "         slightly  in  hip. 
Total  killed  and  wounded,  50. 

LESTER  S.  WILLSON,  Adjutant. 


CHANCELLORSVILLE    AND    GETTYSBURG.  279 

RESIGNATIONS  AND  DISCHARGES  OF  OFFICERS  SUB 
SEQUENT  TO  FEB.  20. 

2d  Lieut.  John  Dundon,  Co.  "  G-,"  Acquia  Creek,  Va.,  21st 
February,  1863. 

1st  Lieut.  M.  L.  Fitch,  Co.  "  H,"  Acquia  Creek,  Va.,  21st 
February,  1863. 

2d  Lieut.  John  Ingram,  Co.  "H,"  Acquia  Creek,  Va.,  21st 
February,  1863. 

2d  Lieut.  Charles  H.  Houghton,  Co.  "  B,"  Acquia  Creek, 
Va.,  4th  March,  1863. 

1st  Lieut.  Edward  A.  Rich,  Co.  "  K,"  Acquia  Creek,  Va., 
4th  March,  1863. 

2d  Lieut.  Stephen  Adams,  Co.  "  D,"  Acquia  Creek,  Va., 
22d  April,  1863. 

2d  Lieut.  Geo.  M.  Eastman,  Co.  "  C,"  Acquia  Creek,  Va., 
12th  April,  1863. 

Captain  Duncan  M.  Robertson,  Co.  "A,"  Acquia  Creek, 
Va.,  30th  May,  1863. 

Captain  Volney  M.  Carter,  Co.  "  D,"  Acquia  Creek,  Va., 
30th  May,  1863. 

Lieut. -Colonel  J.  C.  0.  Redington,  Sandy  Hook,  Md.,  18th 
July,  1863. 

Assistant-Surgeon  Win.  B.  Chambers,  mustered  out  4th 
March,  1863,  to  receive  promotion. 

1st  Lieut.  Henry  Farrell  discharged  for  disability,  at  Wash 
ington,  D.  C.,  17th  July,  1863. 

LIST  OF  APPOINTMENTS  AND  PROMOTIONS. 

NOTICE    RECEIVED    SINCE   FEB.    20. 

1st  Sergt.  Wm.  H.  Fitch,  to  be  1st  Lieutenant,  Feb.  14th, 
vice  N.  M.  Dickinson,  resigned. 

Sergeant-Major  Henry  Farrell,  to  be  1st  Lieutenant,  Jan. 
29th,  vice  J.  Hurst,  resigned. 

Private  5th  Vol.,  Edward  Sinclair,  to  be  2d  Lieutenant, 
March  4th,  vice  H.  C.  Reynolds,  deceased. 


280  CHANCELLORSVILLE    AND    GETTYSBURG. 

Q.  M.  Sergeant  Byron  T.  Bordwell,  to  be  2d  Lieutenant, 
Feb.  21st,  vice  J.  Dundon,  resigned. 

Hospital-Steward  G.  G.  Cornish,  to  be  1st  Lieutenant,  Feb. 
21st,  vice  M.  L.  Fitch,  resigned. 

Smith  H.  Mapes,  to  be  Assistant-Surgeon,  June  13th,  vice 
Wm.  B.  Chambers,  promoted. 

1st  Lieut.  M.  Nolan,  to  be  Captain,  May  30th,  vice  D.  M. 
Kobertson,  resigned. 

1st  Lieut.  Wm.  H.  Fitch,  to  be  Captain,  May  30th,  vice 
V.  M.  Carter,  resigned. 

2d  Lieut.  Chas.  T.  Greene,  to  be  1st  Lieutenant,  May  30th, 
vice  M.  Nolan,  promoted. 

2d  Lieut.  James  E.  Kelsey,  to  be  1st  Lieutenant,  March 
4th,  vice  E.  A.  Rich,  resigned. 

1st  Sergeant  John  E.  Willson,  to  be  2d  Lieutenant,  April 
12th,  vice  G.  M.  Eastman,  resigned. 

1st  Serg.  Lewis  Carnithan,  to  be  1st  Lieutenant,  Feb.  29th, 
vice  J.  Delaney,  promoted 

1st  Serg.  Denis  G.  Seely,  to  be  2d  Lieutenant,  Jan.  30th, 
vice  L.  Clark,  resigned. 

1st  Serg.  James  Brown,  to  be  2d  Lieutenant,  May  30th, 
vice  C.  T.  Greene,  promoted. 

1st  Serg.  Loren  W.  Tuller,  to  be  2d  Lieutenant,  March 
15th,  vice  J.  E.  Kelsey,  promoted. 

The  last  nine  have  received  their  commissions,  but  have 
not  yet  (Sept.  1st,  1863,)  been  mustered  into  their  new  posi 
tions,  on  account  of  the  small  number  of  men  now  in  the  regi 
ment;  also,  Lieutenant  Sinclair  (brother  of  Captain  P.  S. 
Sinclair)  stands  in  the  same  position. 


GOING   TO    A   NEW    FIELD. 


XVIII. 
GOING  TO  A  NEW  FIELD. 

SHORTLY  after  the  1st  of  September,  the  regiment  moved  to 
Raccoon  Ford,  on  the  Rapidan,  in  Culpepper  County,  and  was 
there,  doing  picket  duty,  some  two  or  three  weeks. 

On  the  night  of  their  arrival,  or  shortly  after,  Kilpatrick's 
cavalry  having  been  out  on  a  reconnoissance,  came  in,  and 
without  orders  or  warning,  discharged  their  loaded  arms,  pro 
ducing  a  great  alarm  and  commotion.  The  long  roll  was  beat, 
and  the  troops  formed,  in  momentary  expectation  of  an  attack, 
much  to  the  disturbance  and  fright  of  a  large  number  of  con 
scripts  who  had  that  day  arrived. 

"Until  about  the  middle  of  the  month,  nothing -.worthy  of 
special  note  transpired  to  break  the  routine  of  camp  life ;  but 
at  that  time  the  regiment  felt  called  upon  to  take  action  in 
rebuke  of  a  trick  then  being  played  on  the  Army  of  the  Poto 
mac  for  political  effect. 

General  George  B.  McClellan,  who  was  only  removed  from 
-•his  command  after  the  more  than  paternal  forbearance  of  Pres 
ident  Lincoln,  had  placed  himself  in  the  hands  of  men  no 
toriously  unscrupulous  in  their  opposition  to  the  Administra 
tion,  and  as  notoriously  bent  on  aiding  the  rebels  to  secure  a 
peace  on  terms  dishonorable  to  the  loyal  people  of  the  Union. 
These  copperhead  enemies  of  the  country,  wishing  to  turn 
McClellan's  disgrace  into  a  censure  on  the  President  and  his( 
Constitutional  advisers,  as  well  as  to  give  him  hereafter  a 
political  prominence  that  should  enable  him  to  work  great 
24* 


282  GOING    TO    A   NEW    FIELD. 

mischief,  issued  and  circulated  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
the  following  anonymous  paper : 

CIRCULAR. 

It  having  been  proposed  by  many  officers  of  this  army  to  present 
to  Major-General  McClellan  some  mark  of  their  respect,  which 
should  serve  as  a  memorial  of  the  relations  which  have  existed 
between  them,  it  has  been  suggested  that  the  privilege  of  joining 
be  extended  to  the  whole  army,  as  an  evidence  that  the  warm 
feeling  which  he  has  ever  borne  towards  it  is  fully  reciprocated 
by  both  officers  and  men ;  and,  in  order  that  all  may  unite  in 
this  object,  that  it  take  the  form  of  a  testimonial  from  the  "Army 
of  the  Potomac"  to  its  old  Commander. 

That  all  may  participate,  it  is  proposed  that  the  subscriptions 
be  limited  as  follows : 

Rank  and  File,  each     Ten  cents. 

.  Sergeants,  "         Twenty-five  cents. 

Lieutenants,  "         One  dollar. 

Captains,  "         One  dollar  and  fifty  cents. 

Lieut.-Colonels  and  Majors,     "        Three  dollars. 

Colonels,  "         Five  dollars. 

Brigadier-Generals,  "         Ten  dollars. 

Major-Generals,  "         Twenty  dollars. 

That  one  of  the  Staff  Officers  at  general  headquarters,  and  one 
at  the  headquarters  of  each  regiment,  brigade,  division,  corps, 
and  separate  command,  receive  the  contributions,  and  deposit 
the  amount,  with  lists  of  the  contributors,  at  corps  headquarters. 

A  book  containing  the  names  of  all  who  contribute  will  be 
prepared,  and  presented  to  General  McClellan  as  part  of  the 
testimonial. 

Arrangements  will  be  made  to  enable  the  absent,  sick,  and 
wounded,  and  all  others  not  present  with  the  army,  but  who 
now  belong  or  have  belonged  to  it,  to  contribute. 

It  is  expected  that  in  each  command  with  the  army  in  the 
field,  the  necessary  measures  will  be  taken  to  secure  to  the  sick 
in  hospitals,  or  those  temporarily  absent  from  their  commands, 
the  opportunity  of  adding  their  names  to  the  lists,  before  they 
are  sent  in. 

It  is  proposed  that  an  officer  be  designated  at  e.ifh  corps  head- 


GOING    TO    A    NEW    FIELD. 

quarters  and  one  from  general  headquarters,  these  with  power 
to  add,  not  exceeding  five,  as  a  committee  to  their  numbers,  to 
decide  upon  the  nature  of  the  testimonial,  and  to  make  the-  ne 
cessary  arrangements  for  procuring  and  presenting  it  as  soon  as 
the  contributions  are  received. 

The  animus  of  this  thing  was  apparent  to  the  intelligent  and 
loyal  men  of  the  60th,  and  they  appointed  a  committee  to 
draw  up  an  expression  of  their  views.  The  unanimity  of  feel 
ing  is  obvious  from  the  following 

REPORT    OF   A    COMMITTEE    ON    RESOLUTIONS, 

Appointed  by  the  officers  of  the  60th  Regiment  New  York  State 
Volunteers,  to  consider  a  printed  circular  now  in  circulation 
in  said  regiment,  and  in  all  the  camps  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  having  for  its  object  the  raising  of  funds  with  which 
to  purchase  a  present  or  memorial  for  Major-General  George 
B.  McClellan. 

WHEREAS  the  circular  hereunto  affixed  proposes  to  present,  at 
this  auspicious  period  of  our  national  troubles,  a  memorial  to 
General  McClellan,  by  means  raised  from  the  officers  and  soldiers 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  as  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  60th  Regiment 
New  York  State  Volunteers,  we  deprecate  the  circulation  of  any 
anonymous  communication,  although  received  through  military 
channels,  having  for  its  object  the  particular  consideration  of  any 
General  or  officer,  or  any  one  who  is  most  lauded  in  the  North  by 
those  who  have  sought  all  means  by  which  to  disturb  the  action 
of  the  nation,  and  this  while  the  National  Administration  is 
using  all  constituted  authority  to  overcome  the  evils  which  are 
caused  by  an  extensive  rebellion,  and  we  consider  it  prejudicial 
to  good  order  and  military  discipline,, to  give  a  mark  of  favor  to 
any  individual  who  is  censured,  if  not  condemned,  by  the  highest 
national  authority, — the  President  of  the  United  States. 

Resolved,  That  we  believe  said  circular  and  the  memorial  which 
it  intends  is  designed  not  only  to  pledge  those  contributing  to  it 
in  a  manner  that  will  influence  their  future  action,  but  also  their 
friends  in  the  North,  for  the  political  aggrandizement  of  General 


284  GOING   TO    A    NEW   FIELD. 

McClellan,  who,  we  have  yet  to  learn,  is  deserving  of  political 
pre-eminence. 

Resolved,  That  believing  history  will  do  justice  to  the  really 
deserving,  and  the  people  honor  the  worthy,  we  are  of  the  opinion 
that  the  means  now  proposed  to  sustain  General  McClellan  ought 
to  be  frowned  'upon  by  every  soldier  in  the  army,  and  that  it 
necessarily  implies  his  need  of  such  an  expression  to  sustain  him 
in  the  estimation  of 'the  people. 

Resolved,  That  designedly  we  will  not  further  the  advance  of 
any  scheme  having  for  its  real  ends  party  dominance  or  political 
results,  or  that  may  furnish  a  plausible  hobby  whereby  to  em 
barrass  the  action  of  the  Administration  in  its  purpose  of  crush 
ing  the  rebellion. 

Resolved,  That  knowing  well  the  political  associates  of  General 
McClellan,  among  whom  Fitz  John  Porter  is  banefully  conspicu 
ous,  we  can  but  deem  this  circular,  asking  a  memorial,  an  insult 
to  both  officers  and  soldiers,  who,  we  trust,  are  most  eager  to 
furnish  means,  pecuniary,  physical,  and  mental,  to  restore,  by 
force  of  arms,  the  former  prestige  of  our  National  Government. 

ABEL  GODARD,  Colonel. 

H.  B.  WHITON,  Surgeon. 

E.  A.  MERRITT,  Quartermaster. 

WM.  H.  FITCH,  Captain. 

MICHAEL  NOLAN,  Ca.ptain. 

Committee. 

The  foregoing  resolutions  being  submitted  to  the  officers  and 
men  of  the  60th  Regiment,  New  York  Volunteers,  were  unani 
mously  adopted,  and  a  copy  of  the  same  ordered  to  be  sent  to  the 
Washington  CHRONICLE. 

LESTER  S.  WILLSON,  Adjutant. 

CAMP, NEAR  RACCOON  FORD,  RAPIDAN  RIVER,  VIRGINIA,  Sep 
tember  21,  1863. 

This  rebuke  was  well  deserved,  and  the  utterance  of  it  con 
fers  the  highest  honor  on  the  men  who  made  it.  Public 
attention  was  thus  called  to  the  traitorous  intentions  of 
McClellan's  friends,  and  the  occasion  was  used  to  expose  his 
own  base  disloyalty.  On  inserting  the  Circular  and  the  Reso- 


GOING   TO   A   NEW    FIELD.  285 

lutions  of  the  60th  in  its  columns,  the  "  Chronicle"  made, 
among  other  things,  the  following  revelations  concerning  the 
retired  General : 

"The  following  are  some  of  the  facts,  apart  entirely  from  his 
sad  failure  as  a  military  commander,  connected  with  General 
McClellan's  career.  Immediately  on  his  retirement  to  Trenton, 
a  committee  of  eleven  Democrats  from  New  York  had  a  long  in 
terview  with  him,  the  result  of  which  was  that  he  placed  in  the 
hands  of  a  banking  firm  in  New  York,  the  name  of  which  is 
known  to  us,  and  a  partner  in  which  was  a  member  of  the  depu 
tation,  documents  which  one  of  the  eleven  described  as  being  suf 
ficient  to  blow  up  the  Administration  at  any  time  they  chose  to 
use  them.  Since  that  time  lie  has  never  uttered  a  word  in  public, 
and  it  is  safe  to  say  not  in  private  either,  in  favor  of  the  Govern 
ment  under  which  he  still  holds  his  rank,  and  from  which  he  still 
receives  the  pay  of  a  major-general,  though  the  opportunities 
have  been  many  when  a  few  words  of  unconditional  loyalty  from 
him  would  have  been  of  incalculable  service  to  the  cause  of  the 
Union.  Through  .all  the  troubles  of  a  Government  to  which  he 
owes  so  much — of  whose  substantial  favors  he  is  to  this  hour  a 
recipient — and  which  has  shown  to  him  a  forbearance,  the  full 
extent  of  which  the  country  does  not  yet  know — he  has  been  the 
daily  associate  of  its  known  and  professed  enemies." 

The  circulation  of  the  Circular  was  at  once  stopped,  and  the 
army  thereby  saved  from  a  lasting  disgrace. 

On  the  24th,  the  12th  Corps  was  ordered  to  march  imme 
diately.  The  1st  Corps  relieved  them  at  Kaccoon  Ford,  and 
the  3d  Brigade  marched  that  night  to  near  Brandy  Station,  on 
the  Orange  and  Alexandria  Kailroad,  where  they  bivouacked. 
The  next  morning  the  following  Orders  were  promulgated,  and 
the  regiment  marched  to  Brandy  Station,  where  they  expected 
to  take  cars : 

HEADQUARTERS  TWELFTH  CORPS, 

GENERAL  ORDERS,  )  September  25th,  1863. 

No. I 

In  the  contemplated  movements  of  this  Corps,  Division,  Brigade, 
and  independent  commanders  will  be  held  responsible  for  the 


286  GOING    TO   A    NEW    FIELD. 

safe  conduct  of  their  men.  The  most  stringent  measures  will  bo 
taken  to  prevent  desertion  and  straggling.  On  the  cars,  an  offi 
cer  will  be  placed  in  charge  of  each  train,  and  a  subordinate  offi 
cer  in  charge  of  each  car,  with  proper  guards  at  the  door,  to 
prevent  the  men  from  leaving  the  train.  Care  will  be  taken  to 
furnish  the  men  with  plenty  of  water  before  going  in  the  cars. 
It  is  expected  that  officers  of  all  grades  will  accompany  and  remain 
with  their  men  at  all  times. > 

By  command  of 

Major-General  SLOCUM. 

II.  C.  RODGERS,  A.  A.  G. 

HEADQUARTERS  SECOND  DIVISION,  TWELFTH  CORPS, 
NEAR  BRANDY  STATION,  VIRGINIA. 

September  2?th,  1863. 
GENERAL  ORDERS,  \ 
No.  73.          J 

The  General  commanding  Division,  in  urging  strict  compliance 
with  General  Orders  of  this  date,  from  the  Major-General  com 
manding  the  Corps,  relative  to  their  transfer  from  the  present 
scene  of  operations,  on  the  part  of  all  the  officers  and  men  of  this 
command,  enjoins  upon  them  the  necessity  for  preserving  now, 
more  than  ever,  the  strictest  discipline. 

He  calls  upon  them,  through  all  the  coming  events,  to  hold  in 
remembrance  the  high  position  they  have  attained  in  the  estima 
tion  of  their  co-operators,  in  the  good  cause,  of  other  portions  of 
the  army,  and  of  their  countrymen,  by  good  behavior  in  ordinary 
camp  routine,  and  by  prowess  upon  many  well-fought  fields,  in 
dividualizing  this  command,  and  carving  out  for  it  an  undying 
bright  page  in  our  country's  history.  Let  this  hard-earned, 
well-bought  reputation,  which,  in  the  sacred  keeping  of  each  in 
dividual,  tnakes  up  the  enviable  aggregate,  be  sustained  through 
every  scene  about  to  transpire.  Let  no  overt  act,  no  deviation 
from  the  guiding  rules  of  good  soldiership,  tarnish  the  "White 
Star,"  which  sheds  lustre,  not  only  upon  all  entitled  to  wear  it, 
but  has  been,  and  must  be,  if  you  be  true  to  yourselves,  the  bea 
con  to  victories,  yet  to  add  lustre  to  that  Star's  rays,  and  the 
whole  constellation  of  the  Union. 

When  in  transitu  to  the  destination,  where  renewed  efforts 


GOING   TO   A    NEW   FIELD.  287 

•will  be  required  of  you,  do  not  forget  your  individual  responsi 
bilities  then,  and,  when  mingled  with- other  troops,  strive  to  fur 
nish  them  examples  of  discipline,  improved  appreciations  of  the- 
soldier's  holy  mission,  and  bravery  to  emulate. 

You  can  do  it — you  have  done  it!  and  your  commanding  officer 
now  asks  you  to  look  forward,  and  scorn  retrogression. 

The  Corps,  of  which  you  are  part,  has,  for  veteran  attributes, 
been  selected  for  a  special  and  responsible  trust. 

The  high  compliment  belongs  to  each  and  every  one  of  you — 
you  will  not  abuse  the  unbounded  confidence  thus  placed  in  you. 

This  order  will  be  read  to  each  company  of  the  command  before 
its  departure. 

By  command  of 

Brigadier-General  JOHN  W.  GEARY. 

THOMAS  H.  ELLIOTT,  Captain  and  A.  A.  G. 

At  Brandy  Station,  all  horses,  mules,  and  wagons,  together 
with  surplus  stores,  were  turned  over  to  the  Depot  Quarter 
master,  and  the  necessary  baggage  loaded  on  the  cars.  The 
regiment,  however,  marched  to  Bealton  Station,  where,  after 
waiting  two  nights  for  the  cars,  they  embarked  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  28th,  and  proceeded,  without  change  of  train,  over 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  via  Washington,  to  Ben- 
wood,  on  the  Ohio  River,  opposite  Bell  Air,  to  which  place 
they  crossed  on  pontoons  and  barges. 

The  llth  Corps,  and  also  the  greater  portion  of  the  12th, 
having  preceded  them,  the  rolling  stock  of  the  road  was  all  in 
use,  and  they  were  compelled  to  wait  twenty-four  hours  for  trans 
portation.  Getting  under  way  again  on  the  morning  of  the  2d 
of  October,  they  proceeded,  without  change  of  cars,  to  Indian 
apolis,  passing  through  Zanesville,  Xenia,  and  Columbus, 
Ohio,  and  Richmond,  Indiana.  Along  the  entire  route  they 
were  greeted  with  the  warmest  enthusiasm,  and  many  a  "  God 
bless  you  !"  was  uttered  amid  tears  of  joy  that  they  were  on 
the  way  to  reinforce  "  Old  Rosy/'  as*the  people  called  the 
commander  of  the  Cumberland.  The  inhabitants  of  all  the 
places  where  the  cars  stopped  long  enough  to  give  time  for 


288  GOING   TO   A   NEW   FIELD. 

any  expression  of  feeling,  were  rejoiced  at  having  the  oppor 
tunity  of  showing  their  good  will,  and  -  bountifully  supplied 
the  soldiers  with  all  the  delicacies  of  the  land,  refusing  all 
compensation  therefor,  and  not  allowing  any  pedlar  to  ap 
proach  them  with  anything  to  sell.  At  Xenia  they  received 
especial  attentions  from  the  ladies,  who,  being  very  attractive, 
by  reason  of  their  good  looks,  made  so  strong  an  impression  on 
many  of  the  officers  that  the  latter  sought  to  monopolize  their 
attentions,  but  were  politely  told  to  stand  out  of  the  way,  as 
they  were  determined  that  the  soldiers,  should  have  the  first 
and  the  best  of  their  hospitalities.  After  the  men  had  been 
helped  to  all  they  could  eat,  these  ladies  made  them  many 
presents  of  needle-cases,  and  such  like  articles  of  convenience 
and  use.  This  enthusiastic  and  generous  reception  was 
greatly  appreciated  by  the  boys.  They  would  have  been  glad 
to  have  paid  large  prices  for  the  delicacies  so  profusely  lav 
ished  upon  them,  but  to  receive  them  gratuitously  was  as  un 
expected  as  it  was  agreeable. 

This  passage  through  Ohio  took  place  just  before  the 
Gubernatorial  election,  and,  of  course,  the  excitement  was 
intense.  It  gave  the  people  a  good  opportunity  to  know  what 
the  soldiers  thought  of  the  traitor  Vallandigham  and  his  Cop 
perhead  supporters,  and,  as  the  following  incident  will  show, 
their  opinions  could  not  very  well  be  mistaken. 

At  a  little  station  not  far  from  Bell  Air,  some  daring 
scamp,  who  was  on  horseback,  raised  a  cheer  for  Vallandig 
ham,  just  as  the  cars  were  stopping.  This  was  too  much  for 
men  to  endure,  who  had  imbibed  the  pure  Democracy  of  Silas 
Wright,  and  so  springing  to  the  ground,  they  began  to  pelt 
the  rebel  with  stones.  General  Geary  heard  what  was  going 
on,  and  coming  to  the  spot,  looked  on  with  much  satisfaction, 
exclaiming,  "  That's  right,  boys,  give  it  to  him,  d — n  him !" 
at  which  the  miserable  Copperhead  beat  a  hasty  retreat. 

Expressions  of  sympathy  for  Vallandigham  were  confined 
to  the  country  bordering  on  Virginia,  but  elsewhere  the  utmost 


GOING   TO    A    NEW^  FIELD.  289 

confidence  was  expressed  for  the  triumphant  success  of  the 
Union  State  ticket.  At  Dayton,  where,  it  is  said,  Yallandig- 
ham  formerly  resided,  the  old  and  young  either  sung  or 
shouted,  "  Hurrah  for  Johnny  Brough  and  Father  Abraham, 
and  a  rope  to  hang  Vallandigham  /'  and,  as  near  as  the  regi 
ment  could  learn,  these  lines  expressed  the  almost  universal 
sentiment  of  the  people. 

On  the  morning  of  the  4th,  the  regiment  arrived  at  Indian 
apolis,  where  they  found  the  citizens  much  interested  and 
very  patriotic.  A  good  breakfast  was  provided  at  "  The  Sol 
dier's  Home/'  and  other  refreshments  throughout  the  day, 
as  they  were  needed.  At  night  they  took  cars  for  Jefierson- 
ville,  on  the  Ohio  River,  opposite  Louisville,  crossing  to  the 
latter  place  by  steamboat,  and  breakfasting  there,  took  cars, 
at  noon,  for  Nashville.  Changing  cars  at  Nashville,  they  pro 
ceeded  to  Murfreesboro',  where  they  were  landed,  just  at 
night,  on  the  8th,  in  a  terrible  storm.  The  men  having  their 
shelter  tents,  made  the  best  disposition  of  themselves  possible, 
and  some  of  the  officers  took  quarters  with  Colonel  Gilbert, 
of  the  19th  Michigan,  in  a  fine  house  belonging  to  a  surgeon 
in  the  rebel  army. 

The  citizens  of  Murfreesboro'  and  vicinity  were,  at  this 
time,  in  a  great  state  of  excitement.  Wheeler,  of  the  rebel 
cavalry,  was  out  on  a  raid,  and  had,  that  very  day  been,  with 
eight  thousand  of  his  troops,  within  four  miles  of  the  fortifi 
cations  near  Murfreesboro',  destroying  the  bridge  on  Stone 
River/  and  tearing  up  the  railroad  track  for  some  distance. 
John  Morgan's  wife's  family  resided  in  the  place,  and  what 
with  the  jubilant  feeling  of  the  rebel  sympathizers  and  the 
anxiety  of  the  loyal,  the  people  were  greatly  stirred  up.  Some 
feared  an  immediate  fight,  and  others  really  desired  one. 
Most  of  the  troops  were  at  once  marched  into  the  fortification, 
expecting  an  immediate  attack.  But  the  rebels  were  too 
sharp  to  come  within  range  of  the  heavy  guns  on  the  works, 
and  after  destroying  the  bridge,  and  thus  completely  cutting 
25 


290  GOING   TO   A    NEW    FIELD. 

off  railroad  communication  with  General  Rosecrans,  they  re 
treated,  closely  followed  by  our  cavalry.  Fortunately,  the 
whole  of  the  llth  Corps  and  the  1st  Division  of  the  12th,  had 
passed  to  the  front  before  this  interruption  occurred,  and 
therefore  no  fears  were  apprehended  in  relation  to  Rosecrans 
and  his  army,  but  it  was  believed  that  the  reinforcements 
already  sent  him  would  enable  him  not  only  to  hold  his  posi 
tion,  but  to  make  farther  advances. 

The  60th  remained  at  this  point  nearly  a  fortnight,  during 
which  time  they  repeated  the  experiments  and  experiences 
of  the  previous  winter,  in  preparing  winter-quarters,  which 
they  had  succeeded  in  comfortably  fitting  up,  when,  as  before, 
they  were  ordered  to  move.  On  the  20th,  they  were 
taken  ten  and  a  half  miles  south,  to  Christiana,  where  a  fort 
was  being  built  for  the  protection  of  the  railroad.  Here 
they  remained,  doing  picket  duty,  until  the  25th,  when  they 
left  for  Bridgeport,  but  were  stopped  at  Dechard,  and  de 
tained  there,  on  the  train,  eighteen  hours.  The  rebels  had 
been  tampering  with  the  road  again,  and  another  raid  being 
apprehended,  the  tr6ops  were  kept  back  until  the  extent  of 
the  danger  could  be  ascertained.  It  did  not  prove  to  be  as 
great  as  was  at  first  anticipated ;  the  chief  trouble  being  oc 
casioned  by  a  torpedo  which  had  been  placed  on  the  track, 
near  the  tunnel  on  Cumberland  Mountain;  and  the  only 
damage  caused  by  this  was  the  destruction  of  a  locomotive, 
which  it  blew  off  the  track. 

Arriving  at  Bridgeport  on  the  morning^of  the  27th,  they 
found  orders  waiting  them  to  join  the  Division  then  marching 
to  Shell  Mound,  as  soon  as  possible. .  Leaving  here  all  the 
men  who  were  unable  to  march,  and  also  all  the  baggage  and 
private  property,  under  charge  of  Quartermaster  Merritt,  the 
regiment  took  thr.ee  days'  rations,  and  sixty  rounds  of  ammu 
nition,  and  pushed  on  to  the  front.  The  Tennessee  River,  at 
this  point,  is  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  wide,  and  is  crossed 
by  the  railroad  by  a  bridge  1300  feet  long,  to  an  island, 


GOING    TO   A    NEW   FIELD. 


291 


thence  across  the  island  by  a  high  embankment  to  another 
bridge,  500  feet  in  length,  each  bridge  being  about  40  feet 
above  the  water ;  but  as  all  this^  had  been  destroyed  by  the 
rebels,  the  regiment  crossed  on  pontoons.  To  Chattanooga, 
the  distance,  by  rail,  is  twenty-eight  miles,  but  as  the  rebels 
had  held  the  road  since  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  it  became 
neceseary  to  send  all  supplies  over  the  wagon  roads,  which 
makes  the  distance  between  forty  and  fifty  miles. 

-A  day  or  two  after  the  regiment  left,  thirty-seven  non-com 
missioned  officers  and  privates,  belonging  to  Longstreet's  Corps, 
came  into  Bridgeport  and  delivered  themselves  up,  having  de 
serted  their  posts  while  on  picket.  They  expressed  themselves 
tired  of  the  war,  and  were  confident  than  thousands  would  fol 
low  their  example  on  the  first  opportunity.  Deserters  became 
more  numerous  every  day,  and  the  prisoners  who  were  cap 
tured  expressed  a  general  desire  that  the  Union  forces  should 
push  on  and  end  the  war.  The  vigorous  measures  adopted 
by  the  Union  Generals  in  that  Department,  had  a  most  salu 
tary  effect,  their  orders  all  being  to  the  point,  and  invariably 
carried  out.  The  rebels  understanding  that  orders  are  given 
to  shoot,  without  trial,  all  prisoners  taken  having  on  the 
United  States  uniform,  some  very  laughable  stories  are  told 
of  them  when  liable  to  be  taken.  When  coming  upon  a  party 
who  find  escape  impossible,  the  first  thing  usually  discovered 
is  United  States  clothing  scattered  along  the  road;  and  when 
captured,  many  are  almost  entirely  destitute  of  covering,  hav 
ing  divested  themselves  of  it  in  fear  of  the  consequences,  if 
caught  with  it  on. 

The  object  of  the  movement  from  Bridgeport  was  the  open 
ing  of  a  shorter  road  for  supplies  to  Chattanooga,  which,  as 
will  be  seen,  was  accomplished,  and  it  received  a  name  that 
will  probably  remain  as  long  as  any  recollection  is  had  of  the 
campaign,  "  The  Cracker  Road  !" 

Shell  Mound  was  reached  in  a  day,  and  the  next  morning, 
at  daybreak,  the  column  started  for  Whiteside,  having  a  hard 


292  GOING    TO    A    NEW   FIELD. 

march  over  a  very  rough  road,  and  through  a  severe  storm. 
Meanwhile  the  llth  Corps,  a  portion  of  whose  troops  the  60th 
relieved  at  \Yhiteside,  and  ajarge  portion  of  the  2d  Division 
of  the  12th,  had  made  a  rapid  march  some  distance  in  ad 
vance,  and  on  the  28th,  the  latter  halted  for  the  night  at 
"VVauhatchie,  while  the  former  was  some  three  or  four  miles 
farther  on.  While  fancying  themselves  in  perfect  security 
for  the  night,  and  with  their  pickets  thrown  out  but  a  short 
distance,  they  were  suddenly  surprised  at  about  eleven  o'clock 
by  a  vigorous  attack  from  Longstreet's  Corps,  a  force  four  or 
five  times  their  superior  in  numbers. 

The  following  despatches  from  Major-General  Thomas,  give 
the  results  in  a  few  words  : 

ARMY  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND, 

CHATTANOOGA,  Oct.  29—11.30  P.  M. 
MAJOR-GENERAL  HALLECK,'  General-in-Chief: 

In  the  fight  of  last  night,  the  enemy  attacked  General  Geary's 
Division,  posted  at  Wauhatchie,  on  three  sides,  and  broke  into 
his  camp  at  one  point,  but  was  driven  back  in  a  most  gallant 
style,  by  part  of  his  force,  the  remainder  being  held  in  reserve. 

Howard,  while  marching  to  Geary's  relief,  was  attacked  on 
the  flank,  the  enemy  occupying  in  force  two  commanding  hills 
on  the  left  of  the  road. 

He  immediately  threw  forward  two  of  his  regiments,  and  took 
both  at  the  point 'of  the  bayonet,  driving  the  enemy  from  hia 
breastworks  and  across  Lookout  Creek. 

In  this  brilliant  success  over  their  old  adversary,  the  conduct 
of  the  officers  and  men  of  the  llth  and  12th  Corps  is  entitled  to 
the  highest  praise. 

GEORGE  II.  THOMAS, 

Major-General. 

CHATTANOOGA,  Oct.  29—11.30  P.  M. 
MAJOR-GENERAL  HALLECK,  General-in-Chief: 

Since  the  fight  of  the  night  of  the  28th,  the  enemy  has  not  dis 
turbed  us.  General  Hooker  took  prisoners  four  officers  and  one 


GOING    TO   A    NEW   FIELD.  293 

hundred  and  three  men,  and  captured  nearly  a  thousand  Enfield 
rifles.  His  loss  was  three  hundred  and  fifty  officers  and  men 
killed  and  wounded, 

G.  II.  THOMAS,  Maj.-Gen. 

The  following,  from  a  despatch  of  Quartermaster-General 
Meigs,  of  the  same  date,  shows  the  promptness  and  bravery 
•       of  the  llth  Corps  : 

Last  night,  the  llth  Corps  hastily  entered  on  this  central  cam 
paign.  General  Geary,  some  four  miles  up  the  Lookout  Valley, 
being  attacked  by  Longstreet,  the  llth  Corps,  about  1  o'clock, 
marched  to  his  aid,  passing  the  steep  wooded  hills,  about  150 
feet  in  height.  They  received  a  volley  from  a  rebel  force  which 
had  occupied  and  entrenched  their  summit.  After  dark,  four 
regiments  assaulted  the  east  hill,  and,  without  firing  a  shot, 
steadily  advanced  by  the  light  of  the  moon,  and  drove  the  rebels 
out  of  their  rifle-pits,  and  down  the  other  slope  of  the  hill. 
Thirty-one  dead  soldiers  attest  the  difficulty  of  the  assault  and 
the  valor  and  steadiness  of  the  troops,  which,  in  a  night  attack, 
accomplished  one  of  the  most  brilliant  feats  of  the  campaign. 

Only  after  walking  over  the  ground  to-day,  do  I  fully  appre 
ciate  the  exploit,  when  these  hills  were  taken. 

They  inarched  to  the  assistance  of  General  Geary,  who  had 
held  his  position,  and- Longstreet  was  driven  back  with  slaughter. 

As  prisoners  from  two  Divisions  attest  that  his  whole  disposa 
ble  force  was  engaged,  the  whole  affair  is  most  creditable  to  these 
Corps  from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  coolness  and  strategy  displayed  at 
this  time,  I  give  the  following,  from  a  letter  to  the  "New 
York  Tribune :" 

An  unrecorded  incident  of  the  midnight  fight  between  Hooker's 
and  Longstreet's  forces,  in  Lookout  Valley,  has  come  to  my 
knowledge,  and  deserves  to  have  a  place  on  the  record.  A  short 
time  subsequent  to  the  magnificent  charge  on  the  enemy  in  their 
breastworks  by  General  Geary's  Brigade,  General  Howard,  taking 
with  him  a  small  escort  of  cavalry,  started  for  that  part  of  the 
25* 


294  GOING    TO    A    NEW    FIELD. 

field  where  General  Geary  was  supposed  to  be.  He  had  not  gone 
far  -when  he  came  up  with  a  body  of  infantry.  "What  cavalry 
is  that?'*  was  the  hail.  "All  right/'  responded  Gen.  Howard, 
at  the  same  time  calling  out,  "What  men  are  those?"  "Long- 
street's!"  was  the  reply.  "  All  right ;  come  here,"  said  General 
Howard.  The  men  approached.  "  Have  we  whipped  these  fel 
lows  ?"  asked  General  Howard,  in  a  manner  to  keep  up  the  de 
ception.  "No,  d — n  them;  they  were  too  much  for  us,  and 
drove  us  from  our  rifle-pits  like  devils.  We're  whipped  our 
selves  I"  By  this  time,  the  rebels  had  gathered  nearer.  "Lay 
downpour  arms  !"  demanded  General  Howard,  in  a  stern  voice. 
The  men  surrendered.  Taking  his  prisoners  in  charge,  General 
Howard  proceeded  on  his  way.  He  had  not  gone  far  before  an 
other  party  of  rebel  infantry  called  out,  "  What  cavalry  is  that?" 
"  All  right !"  was  the  response  again  of  General  Howard,  as  he 
proceeded.  On  approaching  the  position  occupied  by  Geary, 
that  officer  had  observed  the  advancing  horsemen  and  infantry, 
as  he  supposed  the  prisoners  to  be,  and,  supposing  them  to  be 
rebels',  he  had  ordered  his  guns  to  be  loaded  with  canister,  and, 
in  a  moment  more,  would  have  given  the  intrepid  Howard  and 
his  little  force  the  benefit  of  it.  But  the  General  who  had  suc 
cessfully  deceived  the  e-nemy,  found  a  way  to  make  himself 
known  to  friends,  and  so  escaped  a  reception  of  that  kind. 

In  this  fight,  our  old  friend  General  Greene,  the  brave  com 
mander  of  the  3d  Brigade,  was  severely  wounded,  the  ball  pass 
ing  through  his  cheeks.  At  Cedar  Mountain,  Antietam,  Chan- 
cellorsville  and  Gettysburg,  General  Greene  had  shown  the 
coolness,  bravery  and  daring  of  the  old  Rhode  Island  blood, 
and  may  now  have  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  having 
thus  nobly  and  fearlessly  aided  his  country  in  securing  some 
of  its  most  important  victories,  he  has  emulated  the  patriotic 
deeds  of  as  worthy  an  ancestry  as  any  American  can  boast ! 

During  this  engagement,  the  60th  occupied  an  important 
post  at  Whiteside,  where  they  protected  the  rear  of  the  Divi 
sion,  by  holding  a  pass  in  the  Raccoon  Range,  through  which 
the  road  to  Trenton  runs.  Had  Longstreet  been  successful 


GOING*   TO    A   NEW   FIELD.  295 

in  his  attack,  the  regiment  could  not  have  escaped  capture,  as 
they  were  in  a  gap,  isolated  from  all  other  troops,  and  must 
have  been  surrounded.  They  remained  here  several  days 
erecting  fortifications,  and  as  during  this  time  they  were 
without  supplies,  and  could  get  no  rations,  they  killed  all  the 
beef  they  could  find,  and,  for  bread,  had  parched  corn.  As 
this  latter  article  ran  short,  the  Adjutant  made  a  raid  on  a 
mill  near  by,  and  compelled  a  farmer  who  had  come  with  his 
grist,  -to  sell  one-half  of  it,  which  amouted,  however,  to  but  a 
peck.  This,  being  simply  cracked,  was  boiled  down  to  a  sort  of 
pudding,  and  eaten  with  bacon  grease !  The  horses,  too,  were 
on  short  allowance,  and  as  they  had  been  without  forage  for 
some  time,  the  Adjutant  took  a  small  force,  and  went  outside 
of  the  lines  to  see  what  could  be  found.  Being  chased  by 
'the  rebel  cavalry,  the  regiment  turned  out  and  gave  a  few  vol 
leys,  which  repulsed  them.  Subsequently,  the  cavalry  threat 
ened  several  attacks,  but  wrought  no  damage. 

On  the  31st,  the  regiment  was  mustered  for  pay,  and  having 
made  out  their  rolls,  were  ready  for  that  which  would,  in  this 
respect,  complete  their  happiness, — the  appearance  of  the  Pay- 
Master. 

Perhaps  I  cannot  better  close  this  chapter,  than  by  giving 
an  extract  from  General  Hooker's  report  of  the  battle  of 
Lookout  Valley,  which  contains  the  following  cordial  mention 
of  General  Geary's  Division  : 

ii 

Geary's  Division  being  in  the  rear,  and  being  anxious  to  hold 
both  roads  leading  to  Kelly's  Ferry,  he  was  directed  to  encamp 
near  Wauhatchie,  three  miles  from  the  position  held  by  How 
ard's  Corps.  Pickets  were  thrown  out  from  both  camps  on  all  of 
the  approaches,  though  no  attempt  was  made  to  establish  and 
preserve  a  communication  between  them.  The  commands  were 
too  small  to  keep  up  a  substantial  communication  that  distance, 
and  I  deemed  it  more  prudent  to  hold  the  men  well  in  hand  than 
to  have  a  feeble  one.  In  my  judgment,  it  was  essential  to  re 
tain  possession  of  both  approaches  to  Kelly's  Ferry,  if  practica- 


296  GOING   TO   A   NEW   FIELD. 

ble,  as  it  would  cause  us  inconvenience  to  dispossess  the  enemy 
if  he  established  himself  on  either. 

Before  night",  Howard  threw  out  three  companies  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Kelly's  Ferry,  .to  intercept  and  capture,  if  possible,  the 
enemy's  sharpshooters,  who  had  been  engaged  in  filing  across 
the  river  into  our  trains,  and  had,  in  fact,  compelled  them  to 
avoid  that  line  entirely.  A  regiment  was  also  sent  towards  the 
point  where  the  Chattanooga  road  crosses  Lookout  Creek,  and 
about  12  o'clock. had  a  little  skirmishing  with  the  enemy.  An 
hour  after,  the  muttering  of  heavy  musketry  fell  upon  our  ears, 
from  the  direction  of  Geary.  He  was  fiercely  attacked :  first,  his 
pickets,  and,  soon  after,  his  main  force,  but  not  before  he  was  in 
line  of  battle  to  receive  it.  Howard  was  directed  to  double-quick 
his  nearest  Division  (Schurz')  to  his  relief,  and  before  proceeding 
far  a  sheet  of  musketry  was  thrown  on  him  from  the  central  hills, 
but  at  long  range,  and  inflicting  no  great  injury.  This  was  the 
first  intimation  that  the  enemy  were  there  at  all. 

Directions  were  immediately  given  for  one  of  the  Brigades  en 
route  to  Geary  (Tyndale's)  to  be  detached  and  assault  the  enemy 
in  the  hills  on  the  left,  and  the  other  Brigade  to  push  on  as 
ordered.  Meanwhile,  Howard's  1st  Division,  under  Steinwehr, 
came  up,  when  it  was  discovered  that  the  hill  to  the  rear  of 
Schurz's  Division  was  also  occupied  by  the  enemy  in  force,  and 
Smith's  Brigade,  of  this  Division,  was  ordered  to  carry  it  with  the 
bayonet.  This  skeleton,  but  brave  Brigade,  charged  up  the 
mountain,  almost  inaccessible  by  daylight,  under  a  heavy  fire 
without  returning  it,  and  drove  three  times  their  number  from 
behind  the  hastily-thrown  up  intrench ment's,  capturing  prisoners, 
and  scattering  the  enemy  in  all  directions.  No  troops  ever  ren 
dered  more  brilliant  service.  The  name  of  their  variant  com 
mander  is  Colonel  Orlan  Smith,  of  the  73d  Ohio  Volunteers.  Tyn- 
dale,  encountering  less  resistance,  had  also  made  himself  master 
of  the  enemy's  position  in  his  front. 

During  these  operations,  a  heavy  musketry  fire,  with  occasional 
discharges  of  artillery,  continued  to  reach  us  from  Geary.  It  was 
evident  that  a  formidable  adversary  had  gathered  around  him, 
and  that  he  was  battering  him  with  all  his  might.  For  almost 
three  hours,  without  assistance,  he  repelled  the  repeated  attacks 
of  vastly  superior  numbers,  and  in  the  end  drove  them  inglo- 


GOING   TO    A   NEW   FIELD.  297 

riously  from  the  field.  At  one  time  they  had  enveloped  him  on 
three  sides,  under  circumstances  that  would  have  dismayed  any 
officer,  except  one  endowed  witff  an  iron  will,  and  the  most  ex 
alted  courage.  Such  is  the  character  of  General  Geary. 

With  this  ended  the  fight.  AYe  had  repelled  every  attack,  car 
rying  every  point  assailed,  thrown  the  enemy  headlong  over  the 
river,  and,  more  than  all,  securing  our  new  communications  for 
the  time  being,  peradventure. 


298  THE   IMPORTANT    VICTORIES. 


XIX. 
THE  IMPORTANT  VICTORIES. 

ON  the  3d  of  November  the  regiment  finished  up  its  picket 
duty  at  Whiteside,  and  moved  down  to  Lookout  Valley,  having 
the  headquarters  of  the  Division  at  Wauhatchie.  Here  they 
labored  hard,  building  corduroy  roads,  doing  heavy  picket  duty, 
and  living  on  short  rations,  for  about  three  weeks.  At  this 
point,  six  miles  west  of  Chattanooga,  and  on  the  eastern  slope 
of  Raccoon  Mountain,  two  and  a  half  miles  south  of  the  Tennes 
see  River  at  Kelly's  Ferry,  the  pickets  of  General  Geary's  Divi 
sion  and  those  of  the  rebels  were  but  a  short  distance  apart, 
being  separated  only  by  Raccoon  Creek,  a  narrow  stream. 

The  rebels  manifested  no  disposition  to  fire  on  our  pickets, 
but  were  soon  anxious  to  know  what  treatment  they  would  re 
ceive  if  they  came  over  and  gave  themselves  up.  They  could 
hardly  believe  the  assurance  of  our  men  that  they  would  fare 
well,  as  their  own  officers  had  represented  that  if  caught  within 
our  lines  they  would  either  be  forced  into  our  ranks,  and  com 
pelled  to  fight,  or  be  placed  in  confinement.  Their  ignorance, 
even  of  their  own  army,  was  most  wonderful,  for  although 
Pemberton's  troops  were  serving  in  the  same  field  with  them, 
they  were  very  curious  to  know  if  they  had  ever  been  ex 
changed,  or  what  we  had  done  with  them ! 

Desertions  from  their  ranks  soon  became  very  frequent,  and 
Captain  Fitch  informs  me  that  they  ranged  from  ten  to  seventy- 
five  per  day  across- our  line  of  picket  alone,  during  the  twenty 
days  our  regiment  was  on  duty  there.  They  were  very  anx 
ious  to  see  and  converse  with  our  officers,  and  manifested  more 


THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES.  299 

confidence  in  their  representations  than  they  did  in  the  state 
ments  of  their  own  commanders.  At  night  our  men  constructed 
rafts,  which  they  would  swing  across  the  creek,  and  before 
morning  would  draw  them  back  again,  loaded  with  deserters. 
They  were  mostly  from  Tennessee  and  Kentucky  regiments,  and 
were  most  heartily  anxious  for  the  war  to  close  by  the  re-estab 
lishment  of  the  Union.  *•* 

The  correspondent  of  the  Philadelphia  "  Press"  saw  some 
of  these  deserters,  and,  under  date  of  November  15th,  describes 
a  short  conversation  with  them  : 

"What  are  your  people  fighting  for?"  I  inquired  of  one  of 
twelve  rebel  deserters  who  came  into  our  lines  to-day.  "I  could 
never  get  to  know  exactly,"  said  he,  "  but  some  of  our  officers 
tell  us  we  are  fighting  for  liberty."  Beautiful  sentiment,  thought 
I ;  but  a  fatal  delusion  !  Pretty  theory,  and  attractive  ;  yea, 

"  ingenious,  new, 
Sublime,  stupendous,  everything  but  true." 

"Pray,  tell  me,"  said  I,  "how  much  of  this  liberty  you  have 
secured  for  yourself,  personally,  and  what  is  the  nature  of  it?" 
"  Liberty,"  said  he,  "  to  enter  the  army  or  be  shot  in  my  own 
house  ;  liberty  to  leave  my  family  to  starve  for  the  necessaries  of 
life ;  liberty  to  fight  against  my  own  countrymen,  and  peril  my 
life  to  gratify  a  few  slaveholders,  who  are  leading  us  to  destruq- 
tion.  I  am  sick  of  it,"  said  he,  "  and  have  deserted,  and  thou 
sands  more  would  do  so  if  opportunity  offered."  And  the  eleven 
who  were  with  him  said,  "Amen." 

A  correspondent  Of  the  "  New  York  World"  thus  relates  his 
experiences  in  that  locality,  on  the  17th  of  November: 

I  yesterday  received  an  invitation  from  Colonel  S.  J.  McGroaty, 
of  the  61st  Ohio  Regiment,  and  field  officer  of  the  day,  to  ride 
along  the  outermost  picket  lines,  in  front  of  the  llth  and  12th 
Corps,  and  soon  after  noon  I  was  in  the  saddle.  We  rode  to  the 
extreme  left  of  Hooker's  army,  which  is  posted — and  I  violate  no 
confidence  in  stating  it,  as  it  is  a  matter  of  public  notoriety — on 
the  west  of  the  Lookout  Ridge,  an  elevation  in  the  middle  of  the 


300  THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES. 

valley  of  the  same  name,  whose  height  is  fifty  to  one  hundred 
and  fifty  feet,  and  which  is  cut  by  several  gaps,  through  which 
run  the  railroad  and  numerous  wagon  and  horse-paths.  After 
passing  around  the  left  wing  we  reached  Lookout  Creek,  a  stream- 
about  thirty  feet  wide,  and  from  two  to  five  feet  deep,  on  the  west 
bank  of  which  are  our  pickets,  while  on  the  east  are  those  of  the 
rebels. 

Here  I  witnessed  an  exhibition  entirely  novel  to  me,  and  which 
is  really  far  more  inspiring  than  anything  I  have  witnessed  since 
the  commencement  of  the  war.  Hitherto  the  pickets,  giving  vent 
to  those  feelings  of  enthusiasm  and  hatred  by  which  they  were 
animated  at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  would  never  permit  an 
opportunity  to  pass  to  fire  upon  an  antagonist  without  eagerly 
embracing  it.  But  after  a  stubborn  contest  of  nearly  three  years, 
the  passions  have  cooled,  and  reason  begins  to  assume  its  sway. 
The  first  thing  I  witnessed  on  reaching  the  creek  was  a  group 
of  four  men,  two  from  each  army,  standing  together  upon  a  little 
island  in  the  middle  of  the  stream,  engaged  in  a  pleasant  little 
conversation,  which  embraced  almost  every,  topic  usually  dwelt 
upon  by  intimate  friends.  I  immediately  dismounted,  as  did 
Colonel  McGroaty,  and  crossed  to  the  island,  where,  in  a  few 
minutes,  we  were  joined  by  a  rebel  lieutenant. 

While  there  we  conversed  freely,  but  on  account  of  the  pres 
ence  of  the  rebel  officer,  were  compelled  to  confine  ourselves  to 
extra  political  and  military  subjects.  I  therefore  remained  but 
a  brief  period,  as  I  was  seeking  information,  and  knew  that, 
under  the  circumstances,  I  could  gather  none  there. 

Mounting  our  horses,  w«  rode  a  few  hundred  yards  further, 
where  we  discovered  a  small  post  near  the  creek  bank,  which  was 
under  command  of  a  sergeant,  and  on  turning  towards  it,  we 
rode  our  horses  to  the  creek  bank  to  give  them  an  opportunity  to 
drink,  and  then  saluted  the  rebels.  The  men,  not  understanding 
our  movements  at  first,  had  seized  their  arms,  but  as  soon  as  they 
discovered  our  designs  they  returned  our  salute,  when  Colonel 
McGroaty  .asked : 

Where  is  your  officer  ? 

Sergeant. — Back  with  the  reserve. 

Colonel. — To  what  regiment  do  you  belong? 

S.— To  the  40th  Alabama. 


THE   IMPORTANT   VICTORIES.  301 

C. — Well,  have  you  plenty  to  eat  over  there? 

S. — We  are  scantily  supplied  with  rations. 

C. — Well,  how  do  you  like  the  war? 

S. — We  are  exceedingly  tired  of  it. 

C. — Why  don't  you  stop  it,  then? 

S. — Because  we  can't  do  as  we  wish. 

C. — You  appear  to  get  along  very  well  with  our  pickets. 

S. — Yes  ;  we  have  made  an  agreement  with  thte  regiment  over 
there  that  if  we  get  opposite  each  other  in  battle  we  will  shoot  up 
in  the  air. 

C. — That  is  accommodating,  surely. 

Believing  there  were  too  many  together  to  obtain  any  confes 
sions,  we  rode  down  the  lines  some  distance  to  a  point  opposite  a 
single  sentinel.  He  was  well  dressed,  otherwise  than  he  had 
shocking  bad  shoes.  Turning  to  him  and  giving  the  military 
salute,  I  inquired  his  regiment,  when  he  replied : 

"  The  28th  Alabama/' 

Correspondent. — How  do  you  like  the  war? 

Rebel. — I  am  tired  of  it. 

Cor. — Would  you  like  to  get  away  ? 

R.  (after  looking  around  carefully  that  no  one  might  hear 
him.) — I  would,  if  I  could  do  so  with  safety  to  myself  and 
family.  . 

Cor. — Then  come  over  here ;  our  post  is  near,  and  you  could 
cross  on  that  log  before  your  comrades  could  observe  you. 

R. — That  might  do  for  me ;  but  I  have  a  family.  I  am  on 
half  rations ;  but  every  letter  I  get  from  home  shows  that  my 
wife  and  children  are  worse  off  than  myself.  If  I  were  to  leave 
here  they  would  be  denied  even  the  scanty  relief  they  now  get 
from  charity. 

Cor. — What  do  you  get  per  month? 

R. — Eleven  dollars ;  but  that  won't  purchase  as  much  as  one 
dollar  in  the  North.  It  gives  very  little  aid  to  a  woman  and  four 
children. 

Cor. — What  do  your  officers  think  of  Chickamauga  ? 

R. — They  believed  at  first  that  they  had  gained  much ;  but 
now  all  is  lost,  as  you  are  reinforced. 

Cor. — Did  the  result  of -the  battle  reinspire  your  troops  with 
hope? 

R. — Yes,  for  a  few  days ;  but  it  is  otherwise  now.     The  men 
26 


o02  THE   IMPORTANT   VICTORIES. 

say  that  if  a  victory  brings  them  nothing,  but,  on  the  other  hand, 
really  leaves  them  relatively  weaker,  another  defeat  will  crush 
them. 

Less  than  three  hundred  yards  brought  us  to  another  post, 
where  the  pickets  had  met  upon  a  log,  and  were  trading.  Our 
men  were  suffering  for  want  of  tobacco,  with  which,  of  course, 
the  rebels  were  abundantly  supplied.  For  this  article,  sold  by 
the  sutlers  at  one  dollar  per  pound,  the  rebels  would  get  old 
knives,  a  handful  of  salt,  or  enough  coffee  for  a  meal,  or  some 
thing  of  that  character. 

s  The  examples  given  are  not  exceptional.  Since  the  acquisition 
of  the  west  side  of  Lookout  Creek  not  a  shot  has  been  fired  from 
pickets  on  either  side,  and  the  cordiality  existing  between  the 
parties  is  universal.  Those  who  believe  a  reconciliation  between 
the  North  and  South  to  be  one  of  the  impossibilities,  should  wit 
ness  what  I  have  witnessed.  I  believe,  to-day,  that  if  the  masses 
of  the  people  and  the  army  could  speak  out,  the  Union  could  be 
restored  at  once ;  the  power  is  in  the  hands  of  leaders  who  have 
staked  all  upon  the  success  of  the  rebellion,  and  they  will  cling 
to  their  usurped  hold  with  the  utmost  tenacity.  Were  a  procla 
mation  of  amnesty  issued,  and  could  it  be  generally  circulated, 
the  Southern  confederacy  would  melt  before  it.  But  it  can  ne^ver 
be  circulated  till  the  leaders  in  the  rebellion  have  been  unseated. 
Let  our  armies  drive  them  from  their  places,  and  kindness  will 
do  the  rest.  But  stern  justice  must  precede  mercy. 

How  an  officer  in  this  Alabama  regiment  was  brought  to 
his  senses,  and  what  a  grand  opportunity  was  given  him  to 
consider  the  beautiful  theory  of  Alexander  H.  Stephens,  that 
"  There  are  slave  races  born  to  serve ;  master  races  born  to 
govern,"  will  be  shown  by  a  little  incident,  the  truth  of  which 
is  unquestioned.  It  fell  under  the  observation  of  a  corre 
spondent  of  the  "  Cincinnati  Commercial/'  who  thus  tells  the 
story : 

A  certain  wealthy  old  planter,  who  used  to  govern  a  precinct 
in  Alabama,  in  a  recent  skirmish  was  taken  prisoner,  and,  at  a 
late  hour,  brought  into  camp,  where  a  guard  was  placed  over 


THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES.  303 

him.  The  aristocratic  rebel,  supposing  everything  was  all  right 
— that  he  was  secure  enough  any  way  as  a  prisoner  of  war — as  a 
committee  of  the  whole,  resolved  himself  into  "  sleep's  dead  slum 
ber."  Awakening  about  midnight,  to  find  the  moon  shining  full 
into  his  face,  he  chanced  to  inspect  his  guard,  when,  horror  of  hor 
rors,  that  soldier  was  a  negro !  And,  worse  than  all,  he  recog 
nized  in  that  towering  form,  slowly  and  steadily  walking  a  beat, 
one  of  his  own  slaves  !  Human  nature  could  not  stand  that ;  the 
prisoner  was  enraged,  furious,  and  swore  he  would  not.  Ad 
dressing  the  guard,  through  clenched"  teeth,  foaming  at  the  mouth, 
he  yelled  out : 

"Sambo!" 

"  Well,  massa." 

"  Send  for  the  Colonel  to  come  here  immediately.  My  own 
slave  can  never  stand  guard  over  me ;  it's  a  d — d  outrage ;  no 
gentleman  would  submit  to  it." 

Laughing  in  his  sleeve,  the  dark-faced  soldier  promptly  called 
out,  "  corp'l  de  guard." 

That  dignitary  appeared,  and  presently  the  colonel  followed. 

After  listening  to  the  Southerner's  impassioned  harangue, 
which  was  full  of  invectives,  the  colonel  turned  to  the  negro, 
with, 

"  Sam  '/' 

"  Yes,  Colonel." 

"  You  know  this  gentleman,  'do  you  ?" 

"  Ob  course  ;  he's  Massa  B.,  and  his  big  plantation  in  Alabam'." 

"Well,  Sam,  just  take  care  of  him  to-night,"  and  the  officer 
walked  away. 

As  the  sentinel  again  paced  his  beat,  this  gentleman  from 
Alabama  appealed  to  him  in  an  argument. 

"Listen,  Sambo!" 

"  You  hush  dar  ;  Fse  done  gone  talkin'  to  you  now.  Hush, 
rebel !"  was  the  negro's  emphatic  command,  bringing  down  his 
musket  to  a  charge  bayofret  position,  by  way  of  enforcing 
silence. 

The  nabob  was  now  a  slave — his  once  valued  negro  his  mas 
ter  ;  and,  think  you,  as  he  sank  back  upon  a  blanket,  in  horror 
and  shame  that  night,  that  he  believed  human  bondage  was  a 
divine  institution,  ordained  of  God  ? 


304  THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES. 

How  fast  the  rebels  desert  from  that  portion  of  their  line, 
is  not  a  question  for  us  to  guess  or  conjecture  about;  but  our 
knowledge  of  it  is  reduced  to  certainty,  for  General  Whipple, 
General  Thomas'  Chief  of  Staff,  stated  on  the  25th  of  January, 
18G4,  that  "over  seventy-three  hundred  deserters  from  Bragg' s 
army  have  come  in  our  lines  since  October  20th,  as  shown  by 
the  rolls."  Not  unfrequently  an  officer  marches  his  whole 
picket  squad  into  our  lines,  and  surrenders  the  entire  party. 
The  rebel  Generals  adopt  various  expedients  to  prevent  this, 
but  they  have  learned  that  nothing  can  stop  it.  Before  the 
60th  left  Georgia,  the  rebel  commanders  had  moved  their 
least  trusty  troops  to  the  rear,  and  used  their  most  reliable 
men  for  picket  duty  at  the  front,  but -so  little  confidence  could 
they  place  even  in  these,  that  they  put  a  commissioned  officer 
over  each  eight  men,  and  then,  as  we  have  noticed  above, 
failed  to  keep  them. 

Before  leaving  Wauhatchie,  the  regiment  received  the  fol 
lowing  congratulatory  order : 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND, 

CIIATTANOOGA,  TENN,  Nov.  7th,  1863. 
GENERAL  ORDERS,"  No.  265. 

The  recent  movements,  resulting  in  the  establishment  of  a 
new  and  short  line  of  communication  with  Bridgeport,  and  the 
possession  of  the  Tennessee  River,  were  of  so  brilliant  a  charac 
ter  as  to  deserve  special  notice. 

The  skill  and  cool  gallantry  of  the  officers  and  men  composing 
the  expedition  under  Brigadier-General  William  F.  Smith,  Chief 
Engineer,  consisting  of  the  Brigades  of  Brigadier-Generals 
Turchin  and  Hazen,  the  boat  parties  under  Colonel  Stanley,  18th 
Ohio  Volunteers,  and  the  Pontoniers  under  Captain  Fox,  Michi 
gan  Engineers  and  Mechanics,  in  effecting  a  permanent  locTg- 
ment  on  the  south  side  of  the  river.,  at  Brown's  Ferry,  deserves, 
the  highest  praise. 

The  column  under  Major-General  Hooker,  which  took  posses 
sion  of  the  line  from  Bridgeport  to  the  foot  of  Lookout  Mountain, 
deserve  great  credit  for  their  brilliant  success  in  driving  the 


THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES.  305 

enemy  from  every  position  which  they  attacked.  The  bayonet 
charge,  made  by  the  troops  of  General  Howard,  up  a  steep  and 
difficult  hill,  over  two  hundred  feet  high,  completely  routing  the 
enemy  and  driving  him  from  his  barricades  on  its  top,  and  the 
repulse,  by  General  Geary's  command^  of  greatly  superior  num 
bers,  who  attempted  to  surprise  him,  will  rank  among  the  most 
distinguished  feats  of  this  war. 

By  command  of  Major-General  Geo.  H.  Thomas. 

C.  GODDARD, 
Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

On  the  morning  of  the  22d,  the  1st  Brigade  advanced  about 
two  miles,  for  the  purpose  of  holding  the  breastworks  formerly 
occupied  by  the  llth  Corps,  which  was  now  thrown  forward 
towards  Chattanooga.  The  60th  moved  from  its  cainp  into 
the  .camps  just  vacated  by  the  1st  Brigade,  and  remained 
there  until  the  morning  of  the  24th. 

At  6  A.  M.,  on  that  eventful  and  glorious  day,  Colonel 
Grodard  received  instructions  from  Colonel  Ireland,  command 
ing  the  3d  Brigade,  to  join  the  Brigade  at  6.45  A.  M.,  pre 
pared  with  one  day's  rations,  without  knapsacks  and  blankets, 
in  light  marching  order.  Promptly  to  the  hour,  the  regiment 
moved  with  the  Brigade  to  the  foot  of  Lookout  Mountain, 
where,  being  halted,  General  Geary,  commanding  the  2d 
Division  of  the  12th  Corps,  informed  them  that  General 
Hooker  had  been  ordered  to  take  Lookout  Mountain,  and  that 
the  duty  assigned  his  command  was  to  cross  Lookout  Creek, 
and,  forming  in  line  of  battle,  the  right  resting  near  the  foot 
of  the  main  prominence  of  Lookout,  the  left  on  the  Creek, 
sweep  that  side  of  the  mountain  as  far  as  the  point  projecting 
towards  Chattanooga,  and  drive  the  rebels  from  it.  "  I  am 
confident,"  said  the  General,  "  that  the  brave  men  of  my  com 
mand  can  do  this." 

Such  an  order  was  not  expected.  Lookout  Mountain  was 
generally  deemed,  both  by  friend  and  foe,  as  impregnable ;  and, 
although*  it  had,  for  some  time,  been  a  standing  joke  in  the 
26* 


306  THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES. 

Union  camps  that,  on  some  fine  morning,  General  Hooker  was 
going  to  take  Lookout,, no  one  regarded  it  as  anything  more 
than  a  joke.  But  when  the  order  was  given,  a  very  percepti 
ble  change  came  over  all  who  heard  it.  All  felt  that  to 
attempt  and  fail,  would  be  worse  than  to  win  at  any  cost ;  and 
with  the  fixed  determination  to  take  the  mountain  or  to  be 
buried  on  it,  the  brave  boys  advanced. 

Crossing  the  creek,  the  ascent  was  quietly  made,  under 
cover  of  a  dense  spruce  undergrowth,  till  about  10  o'clock, 
when  the  line  of  battle  was  formed,  the  60th  joining  the  2d 
Brigade,  under  Colonel  Cobham,  on  the  right,  and  the  137th 
New  York  on  the  left ;  the  skirmishers  of  the  2d  Brigade  ex 
tending  in  front  of  the  line.  From  this  point  they  moved 
forward  swiftly,  but  in  as  good  order  as  the  nature  of  the 
ground  would  allow,  over  every  kind  of  obstructions,  for 
about  two  miles,  when  the  skirmishers  engaged  the  enemy. 

About  midway  in  the  ascent  up  and  around  the  mountain, 
the  slope  of  which  is  covered  with  trees  recently  felled,  large 
boulders,  and  loose,  angular  rocks,  which  have,  at  some  long 
ago  period,  been  detached  from  the  ledges  above,  they  came 
to  an  unfinished  earthwork,  in  which  the  rebels  were  appa 
rently  massing  for  defence.  With  a  shout,  such  as  only  Yan 
kees  can  give,  the  60th  fixed  bayonets  and  went  forward  on 
the  run,  leaving  the  skirmishers  and  the  2d  Brigade  far  in 
the  rear.  So  astonished  and  surprised  were  the  rebels,  that 
they  surrendered  at  once  to  a  force  which  was  a  mere  hand 
ful  compared  to  their  numbers,  and,  throwing  down  their 
arms,  were  sent  through  our  line,  down  the  mountain,  many 
of  them  shouting,  as  they  run;  "  The  Southern  Confederacy's 
played  out !  Hurrah  for  the  Union  !" 

A  few  tried  to  make  it  an  opportunity  to  join  their  flying 
comrades,  higher  up  the  mountain,  among  them  a  Color-Ser 
geant,  carrying  the  colors  of  their  battery.  He  gave  no  heed 
to  the  orders  to  halt,  and  was  finally  brought  to  a  sense  of  his 
duty  by  a  ball  from  the  trusty  Enfield.  One  of  our  boys, 


THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES.  307 

eager  for  the  trophy  he  carried,  made  for  the  spot  where  he 
fell,  but  was  surprised  at  the  fellow's  persistency,  as  he  was 
again  up,  and  commenced  a  race  with  Captain  Fitch,  the  ob 
ject  of  which  soon  appeared  to  be  to  avoid  the  sword  in  the 
Captain's  hand,  and  which,  as  a  matter  of  course,  being  so 
told  by  his  officers,  he  considered  intended  for  him.  His 
flight  availed  him  nothing,  as  he  was  soon  surrounded,  and  on  . 
the  Captain's  demand  for  the  flag,  he  handed  it  to  Lee,  of 
Company  "E."  The  flag  went  to  Headquarters,  and  the 
rebel  was  sent  to  the  hospital  to  heal  the  wound  which  the 
deception  of  his  officers  had  cost  him. 

Rushing  through  and  over  these  works,  the  60th,  in  con 
junction  with  the  102d,  137th,  and  149th  N.  Y.  S.  Vols., 
swept  on,  carrying  the  second  and  third  line  of  the  rebel 
works,  and  leaving  in  their  rear  two  brass  field-pieces,  from 
which  they  had  driven  the  enemy,  and,  at  which  place,  Major 
Thomas  was  badly  wounded  in  the  face  and  neck.  Sergeant 
Leahy,  who  bore  the  colors,  being  twice  hit,  fell  to  the  ground, 
and,  on  the  Adjutant's  shouting,  "  The  colors  are  down ! 
Who  will  take  them  ?"  Sergeant  Buck  sprang  forward,  seized 
the  flag,  and,  with  a  coolness  and  bravery  undisturbed  by  the 
whiz  of  bullets,  which  came  thick  and  fast,  steadily  bore  it  in 
advance  of  the  regiment,  and  planted  it,  at  last,  on  that  point 
of  the  mountain  where  the  rebels  had  boasted  that  the  Stars 
and  Stripes  should  never  wave  again,  A  brave  and  noble 
thing  for  you,  Lefiert !  An  ample  compensation  for  your  dis 
appointment  at  Antietam,  where,  as  you  may  remember,  you 
said  to  me,  "  It  is  too  bad  that  they  should  have  hit  me  before 
I  had  a  chance  to  fire  once  !" 

Still  forward  the  regiment  pressed,  until  the  Colonel  disco 
vered  that  they  were  far  beyond  the  point  of  the  mountain 
which  they  were  to  sweep,  and  noticing,  also,  that  the  60th 
and  137th  N.  Y.  were  isolated  from  and  in  advance  of  the 
rest  of  the  command,  he  gave  the  orders,  "  Halt/'  "  Cease 
firing."  "Reluctantly  did  the  men  obey,  for  the  enemy's  sharp- 


308  THE   IMPORTANT   VICTORIES. 

shooters,  concealed  among  the  rocks,  were  keeping  up  a  con 
tinuous  fire;  but,  as  ammunition  was  beginning  to  fail,  and 
support  was  needed,  they  finished  their  work  for  the  day  at  2 
P.  M.,  having,  in  the  short  period  of  four  hours,  occupied  and 
passed  over  about  three  miles  of  Lookout  Mountain,  the 
roughest  and  most  rocky  route  imaginable  for  a  line  of  battle, 
constantly  obstructed  by  every  kind  of  natural  and  artificial 
obstacles,  and  in  the  face  of  a  numerous  enemy  holding  and 
using  every  advantage  of  position. 

As  soon  as  Colonel  Ireland  could  be  informed  of  their  con 
dition,  the  96th  111.  Vols.  and  the  1st  Brigade  of  the  2d 
Division  were  sent  to  their  relief,  and  the  60t^  retired  a  short 
distance  to  the  rear,  to  remain  until  the  following  morning. 
Here  the  sharpshooters  opened  upon  them  one  spiteful  volley, 
when  suddenly  a  dense-  fog  overspread  the  mountain,  and  they 
were  free  from  further  molestation.  During  the  night  weary 
men  and  heavily  laden  pack  mules  toiled  up  and  down  over 
the  ragged  rocks  and  fallen  timber,  replenishing  the  exhausted 
cartridge-boxes  and  hungry  stomachs  of  the  men  preparatory 
to  the  anticipated  battle  of  the  morrow.  But  early  in  the 
morning,  the  pickets  having  informed  General  Geary  that  the 
rebels  had  retired,  he  sent  some  men  from  the  8th  Kentucky 
Volunteers  forward  with  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  and  the  Divi 
sion  flag,  and  they  planted  them  on  the  highest  peak  of  Look 
out  Mountain.  How  great  the  joy, .how  proud  the  satisfaction 
of  the  60th  as  the  dawning  day  showed  them  the  glorious  old 
flag  waving  from  the  top  of  the  enemy's  stronghold  !  Prouder 
are  they,  and  justly,  of  the  part  performed  by  them  in  this 
achievement  than  of  any  former  action  during  the  war ! 

In  such  haste  did  the  rebels  retreat  that  two  Divisions 
abandoned  all  their  camp  equipage  and  commissary  stores, 
amounting  to  over  twenty  thousand  rations  of  hard  bread, 
flour,  and  corn  meal.  For  once,  at  least,  a  portion  of  our  army 
lived  on  the  enemy. 


THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES. 


309 


Iii  this  engagement  the  60th  lost  37  in  killed  and  wounded, 
the  casualties  being  as  follows  : 

Major  "W.  M.  Thomas,  wounded  in  face,  dangerously. 
Captain  P.  S.  Sinclair,       "  "  arm,  slightly. 

Lieut.  Thos.  Hobart,          "          "  breast,  dangerously. 

"      J.  E.  Wilson,  ^        "         *<  arm,  slightly. 
Sergeant-Major  John  Scholl,  wounded  in  leg. 
Private  Thos.  Lee,  Co.  "  C,"  killed. 

"       Martin  Ayres,  Co.  "  D,"  killed. 

"       Robert  Smith,  Co.  "  a,"      " 

"       Felix  Flora$  "          " 

"       George  Mayo,  Co.  "  H,"      " 

Sergeant  E.  D.  North,  Co.  "  A,"  wounded  in  arm,  severely. 
Corporal  A.  C.  Robinson,      "  "  thigh,     " 

Private  Hiram  Harlow,         "  "  "         " 

Sergeant  E.  H.  Partridge,  Co.  "  B,"  sprained  foot. 
Corp.  Benj.  Carlisle,  Co.  "  C,"  wounded  in  thigh,  severely. 

"  leg,  slightly. 


"      Sylvanus  Backus,      " 
Private  Benj.  Corbin,          t( 
"       M.  Furgerson,  Co.  "D," 
«       G.  A.  Sillsbee,  Co.  «  E/' 

Sergeant  Jay  Fairbanks,  Co.  "  F," 
"        Henry  Palmer,  " 


Corporal  W.  H.  Gordon, 
Private  S.  Byette, 


"       B.  Palmer,  " 

Corporal  John  Boland,  Co.  "  G-," 
Private  Sidney  Rider,  Co.  "  H" 
Corporal  M.  Keliey,  " 

Sergeant  A.  F.  Hubbell,        " 
Corporal  W.  Tees.  « 


through  right  hip 
in  thigh,  severely. 

leg  and  foot,  se 
verely. 

both    hips,    se 
verely. 

abdoinen,       se 
verely. 

arm,  slightly. 

right    side,    se 
verely. 

thigh,  slightly. 

leg, 

head,        " 

(I  U 

side,         " 
abdomen," 


310  THE   IMPORTANT   VICTORIES. 

Sergeant  W:  Leahy,  Co.  "  I,"  wounded  in  right  shoulder 

and  left  thigh. 
Private  M.  W^rd,  "  "         shoulder;  slightly. 

"       P.  Hartson,  "  "         head,  « 

Sergeant  J.  R.  Mills,  Co.  « K,"       "         hand,  « 

"-         J.  Fairbanks,*       "  "         both     hips,    seri 

ously. 

Corp."'D.  R.  Freeman,  "  "         leg,  seriously. 

Private  M.  A.  Hickey,         "  «         hip,       « 

"       David  Home,  "  "         fingers    of    right 

^  hand. 

From  a  full  regiment  this  loss  would  have  been  small,  but 
when  we  consider  that  Colonel  Godard  had  but  175  enlisted 
men,  and  10  officers,  to  take  into  the  fight,  the  loss  is  very 
heavy. 

The  dead  were  buried  near  the  top  of  the  mountain,  just 
around  the  point,  and  about  forty  rods  from  the  White  House. 
Their  heads  lie  towards  the  east,  and  commencing  at  the  right, 
they  are  in  the  following  order :  Felix  Flora,  Martin  Ayres, 
George  Mayo,  Robert  Smith,  Thomas  Lee. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  25th,  the  60th,  with  the  rest  of  the 
2d  Division  of  the  12th  Corps,  marched  to  the  rebel  camp  near 
Missionary  Ridge,  from  which  the  enemy  had  been  driven 
during  the  day.  That  night  they  slept  in  the  rebel  huts,  the 
fires  not  having  been  extinguished  when  they  took  possession. 
From  appearances,  the  rebels  had  encamped  a  force  of  20,000 
men  there,  who  had  fixed  up  very  comfortable  winter  quarters. 
Rebel  officers  captured  here  stated  that  Hardee  shed  bitter 
tears  over  the  destruction  of  his  Corps,  and  the  turning  of  the 
position.  He  was  heard  to  say  to  Breckinridge,  "  We  have 
not  far  to  look  for  the  end — our  best  hopes  are  blasted." 

During  the  26th,  the  Division  marched  to  Ringgold,  the 
rebels  having  retreated  in  that  direction,  and  taken  position 
at  Pigeon  Gap,  on  Taylor's  Ridge,  about  two  miles  south  of  the 
village.  The  enemy's  rear-guard  and  train  were  overtaken 


THE   IMPORTANT   VICTORIES.  oil 

that  evening,  a  Sash  made  on  them,  and  a  few  pieces  of  artil 
lery  and  some  wagons  captured. 

On  the  morning  of  the  27th,  the  battle  of  Einggold  com 
menced.  General  Osterhaus'  Division,  of  General  Sherman's 
Corps,  made  the  advance,  General  Geary's  Division  being  the 
reserve.  The  enemy  occupied  the  (^ap  in  large  force,  as  also 
the  slopes  of  the  mountains  on  either  side,  in  such  position 
that  they  had  an  enfilading  fire  on  both  flanks.  They  were 
well  sheltered,  while  our  troops  were  compelled  to  pass  over 
an  open  field,  swept  by  the  concentrated  fire  of  the  batteries 
in  front,  and  of  the  sharpshooters  in  the  flanks. 

Over  this  exposed  place  the  advance  charged  bravely,  but 
soon  fell  back,  an  Illinois  and  Missouri  regiment  breaking. 
The  1st  Brigade  of  General  Geary's  I^ision  was  then  ordered 
in,  to  check  them  and  regain  the  ground.  The  7th  Ohio 
charged  up  to  the  enemy's  guns,  but  received  a  terrible  fire, 
losing  sixteen  out  of  seventeen  officers,  either  killed  or 
wounded,  and  all  but  forty-five  men.  They  were  compelled 
to  fall  back,  losing  their  flag. 

Until  this  time,  the  3d  Brigade  remained  near  the  railroad 
depot,  at  the  village.  General  Hooker,  having  a  clear  ap 
preciation  of  the  importance  of  driving  the  rebels  from  their 
position,  inquired  of  General  Geary  what  troops  he  had  in  re 
serve.  He  replied :  "  The  3d  Brigade  ;  if  they  fail,  the  posi 
tion  cannot  be  carried;  they  will  not  break,  and  can  be  relied 
on."  The  order  was  immediately  given,  "Lead  them  on,!" 
and  the  Brigade  went  in  on  the  double-quick,  the  60th  being 
led  into  position,  under  this  terrible  fire,  by  Captain  Nolan, 
then  Acting  Aid-de-Camp  to  Colonel  Ireland.  The  149th 
N.  Y.  preceded  them,  and  they  were  immediately  followed 
by  the  137th  New  York. 

While  passing  over  the  open  space,  Captain  Charles  T- 
Greene,  Assistant  Adjutant-General  of  the  3d  Brigade,  a  son 
of  Brigadier-General  Greene,  and  formerly  a  Lieutenant  in 
the  60th;  received  a  very  severe  wound,  a  cannon  shot  passing 


312.  THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES. 

through  his  horse,  and  taking  off  the  Captafti's  leg,  on  the 
opposite  side.  Corporal  Conklin  and  Cozens,  of  Company 
"  F,"  went  immediately  to  his  relief,  and  while  under  a  vio 
lent  fire,  removed  with  their  knives  the  fragments  of  the  shat 
tered  limb,  assisted  him  in  applying  a  compress  to  the  arteries, 
and  bore  him  from  the  field. 

The  ranks  of  the  Brigade  were  rapidly  thinned  as  they 
passed  through  this  fire,  but,  quickly  closing  up  the  broken 
lines,  they  pressed  on,  the  60th  and  149th  New  York  finally 
reaching  a  position  so  near  a  rebel  battery  that  it  could  not  be 
served,  our  boys  killing  or  disabling  the  gunners  at  every 
attempt  to  use  their  guns.  During  this  fight,  as  also  at  Look 
out,  Miller,  of  Company  "  K,"  pushed  on  ahead,  loading  and 
firing  as  he  ran,  reportii^g,  with  great  exultation,  to  the  Colonel, 
at  the  close  of  the  battle,  that  he  had  "  made  forty  of  the  best 
shots  that  he  ever  had  in  his  life  I"  After  a  struggle  of  about 
two  hours,  the  rebels  fled,  leaving  the  mountain  in  the  posses 
sion  of  our  troops.  In  their  flight,  they  attempted  to  destroy 
an  important  bridge  on  the  other  side  of  the  mountain,  but 
our  forces  followed  them  so  rapidly,  that  their  design  was 
frustrated. 

General  Geary  came  up  to  congratulate  the  Division  on  its 
glorious  but  dearly-bought  victory,  but  emotion  for  a  long 
time  choked  his  utterance,  and  when,  at  last,  the  words  came, 
they  were  mingled  with  fast-flowing  tears.  So  terrible  was 
the  ordeal  through  which  they  had  passed,  that,  at  its  close, 
officers  and  men  were,  for  a  while,  unable  to  speak,  but  clasped 
hands  and  embraced  each  other,  as  though  they  had  just  met 
after  a  separation  of  years.  Few,  if  any,  showed  no  marks  of 
the  strife.  Colonel  Godard,  who,  going  before  his  men,  gave 
only  the  order,  "  Come  on,  boys !"  had  eleven  bullet  holes  in 
his  clothing  and  boot  legs,  his  metallic  sword  scabbard  was 
hit  by  a  ball  and  considerably  damaged,  while  it  wis  lying 
across  his  arm  and  partly  against  his  side,  yet,  providentially, 
he  was  unhurt.  Adjutant  Willson's  clothing  was  also  cut, 


THE   IMPORTANT   VICTORIES.  313 

but  he  received  no  injury.  Several  noble  men,  however, 
bought  the  victory  with  their  lives  and  sufferings,  as  the  fol 
lowing  list  of  casualties  will  show : 

Capt.  Thomas  Elliott, 'Co.  "  F,"  wounded  in  leg,  slightly. 
Private  Chas.  E.  Backus,  Co.  «  B,"  killed. 

«        Michael  Rubedeau,  Co.  "  H,"  killed. 
1st  Serg.  Jas.  C.  Fitch,  Co.  "A,"  wounded  in  side  mortally. 
Private  Lyman  Tupper,  "      "  "  "     severely. 

Corp.  John  McGregor,    «    "  B,"        "  head,  slightly. 

"      H.  C.  Werden,      «    " C,"         "  both  legs,  severely. 
Private  David  Holliday,  "        "  «  foot,  slightly. 

"        Nelson  Brill,       "    "  D,"        "  side,  severely. 

Serg.  Edgar  Read,  "        "  "  head,  slightly. 

Corp.  Clark  Cozzens,        «    " F,"         "  leg,         " 

Private  Geo.  Champion,  «    « G,"        "  arm,       " 

"        Wm.  Upton,        "    "H,"        "         ,  thigh,  mort'ly. 

"        Thos.  Small,        "        "  leg  and  arm  severely. 

«        Alfred  Lapage,   "        "  "  "  " 

"        James  Chafee,    "    "  I,"  wounded  in  thigh,      « 
Serg.  John  Duane,  "    « K,"        "  head,  slightly. 

The  dead  were  buried  just  outside  the  village,  nearly  west 
from  the  town,  on  the  east  bank  of  the  creek,  under  a  small 
oak,  about  a  rod  from  the  stream,  their  heads  lying  towards 
the  stream.  Commencing  at  the  right,  they  lay  in  the  follow 
ing  order:  Serg.  Jas.  C.  Fitch,  M.  Rubedeau,  C.  E.  Backus, 
William  Upton. 

If  not  already  removed,  these,  as  also  the  dead  at  Lookout, 
will  soon  be  placed  in  a  National  Cemetery,  in  accordance  with 
the  following : 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND, 
CHATTANOOGA,  TENN.,  Dec.  25,  1863. 

GENERAL  ORDERS,  No.  296. 

It  is  ordered  that  a  National  Cemetery  be  founded  at  this  place 
in  commemoration  of  the  Battles  of  Chattanooga,  fought  Novem- 
27 


314  THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES. 

ber  23d,  24th,  25th,  26th  and  27th,  and  to  provide  a  proper  rest 
ing-place  for  the  remains  of  the  brave  men  wlio  fell  upon  the 
fields  fought  over  upon  those  days,  and  for  the  remains  of  such 
as  rnajr  hereafter  give  up  their  lives  in  this  region  in  defending 
their  country  against  treason  and. rebellion. 

The  ground  selected  for  the  Cemetery  is  the  hill  lying  beyond 
the  Western  and  Atlantic  Railroad,  in  a  southeasterly  direction 
from  the  town. 

It  is  proposed  to  erect  a  monument  upon  the  summit  of  the 
hill,  of  such  materials  as  are  to  be  obtained  in  this  vicinity, 
•which,  like  all  the  work  upon  the  Cemetery,  shall  be  exclusively 
done  by  the  troops  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 

Plans  for  the  monument  are  invited  to  be  sent  in  to  these  Head 
quarters. 

When  the   ground  is  prepared,  notice  will  be  given,  and  all 
interments  of  soldiers  will  thereafter  be  made  in  the  Cemetery, 
and  all  now  buried  in  and  around  the  town  removed  to  that  place. 
By  command  of 

Major-General  GEO.  H.  THOMAS. 

WILLIAM  D.  WHIPPLE, 

Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

An  effort  will  be  made  to  do  full  justice  to  the  dead,  as  notice 
the  following  extract  from  an  order,  dated  January  8, 1864  : 

Commanding  officers  of  regiments  in  this  Department  will  fur 
nish,  on  the  application  of  Chaplain  Thomas  B.  Van  Horn,  13th 
0.  V.  I.,  in  charge  of  the  Mortuary  Record  of  the  National  Ceme 
tery  at  this  place,  full  information  in  regard  to  the  full  name, 
rank,  company,  native  State,  date,  age,  marital  state,  date  of  en 
listment,  address  of  nearest  friends,  number  of  engagements  par 
ticipated  in,  soldierly  character,  special  circumstances  of  death, 
if  killed  in  action,  and  whatever  else  is  worthy  in  their  history 
of  record,  of  all  soldiers  who  may  be  interred  in  the  National 
Cemetery  at  Chattanooga. 

Sergeant  Fitch  was  shot  just  as  the  rebels  turned  to  run. 
The  noble,  cheerful  and  Christian  manner  in  which  he  met 
his  fate,  is  best  told  in  the  following  letter,  written  to  his 
family  at  home,  by  his  brother,  Captain  William  Fitch : 


THE    IMPORTANT   VICTORIES.  315 

CAMP  AT  RINGGOLD,  GEORGIA, 
November  29,  18C3. 

DEAR  FRIENDS  :  My  first  leisure  moment,  after  a  severe  week 
of  trial,  is  tendered  to  you. 

Again  we  have  been  called  upon  to  do  battle  for  our  country, 
and  have  been  most  prosperously  victorious ;  but,  to  you,  my 
dear  parents,  my  brother  and  sister,  it  has  been  bought  with 
price.  We  must  mourn  the  loss  of  a  son  and  brother.  We  are 
called  to  the  test  which  none  can  appreciate  until  its  trial.  If 
that  part  which  falls  to  us  be  as  nobly  done  as  his  we  mourn, 
'tis  well ;  'tis  nobly  done.  To  you,  mother,  he  looked  for  the 
truest,,  strongest  proof  of  heroism.  His  message  for  you  was, 
"  that  he  died  happy,  and  had  done  the  best  he  knew  how." 
None  of  us  can  receive  his  consolation  more  considerately  than 
it  was  tendered,  and  should  any  who  loved  him  receive  it  with 
less?  He  died  cheerfully  and  as  happily  as  he  had  lived,  at 
peace  with  all  his  companions  and  his  God. 

Ours  were  the  troops  assigned  the  duty  of  taking  Lookout 
Mountain  ;  and  of  all  the  acts  of  the  war,  none  excelled  it  in  the 
character  of  its  execution.  Foremost  in  the  battle,  as  in  all  hia 
undertaking,  was  seen  him  we  loved  and  mourn.  We  were  suc 
cessful  ;  driving  the  best  of  the  rebel  army  from  their  stronghold. 
The  enemy  must  be  followed,  and  were  attacked  again  at  this 
place  day  before  yesterday,  (November  27th.)  Our  Brigade  was 
assigned  to  duty  that  Western  troops  had  failed  to  perform.  We 
advanced  on  their  cannon  and  infantry,  driving  them  from  their 
position  ;  the  shot  and  shell  passing  over  and  through  our  ranks 
for  a  distance  of  sixty  rods,  but  no  one  quailed.  As  at  Lookout, 
Jemmie  was  in  front,  leading  and  cheering  on  the  men.  We 
arrived  at  and  held  the  position  intended  ;  but,  before  the  enemy 
were  driven  from  range,  he  received  a  wound  in  the  left  side  that 
proved  mortal.  He  was  hit  about  11  o'clock,  A.  M.,  and  died 
at  7£  P.  .M.  I  was  with  him  from  a  few  moments  after  he  re 
ceived  the  wound  till  he  died.  The  battle  ended  in  about  fifteen 
minutes ;  all  the  Generals  coming  to  the  spot  and  immediately 
tendering  to  the  3d  Brigade  the  reputation  of  the  best  Brigade 
in  the  army.  The  cheer  that  went  forth  could  be' responded  to 
by  but  one  of  two  brothers — that  one  has  gone  !  I  could  not  help, 
and,  on  exclaiming,  "My  God,  I  cannot  cheer  for  this  !"  he  im- 


316  THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES. 

mediately  raised  up  and  said,  "  I  can,  if  we  have  whipped  the 
Grey-Back"?/'  and,  laughing,  told  me  not  to  feel  so.  We  soon 
carried  him  back  to  a  house,  and  did  all  for  him  that  we  could. 
He  is  buried  on  the  bank  of  a  small  stream,  in  a  beautiful  spot, 
at  the  entrance  of  Dugout  Gap,  west  of  the  town,  where  we 
fought.  He  died  with  little  pain,  and  was  conscious  to  the  end. 
He  gave  me  the  shield  he  wore  and  told  me  to  send  it  to  mother. 
You  will  find  it  enclosed.  He  believed  his  wound  mortal  from 
the  first,  but  had  no  fears.  His  faith  was  stamped  on  every  fea 
ture,  and  his  words  a  volume  to  all  who  heard  them. 

I  have  no  more  time  to  write  now,  as  we  may  move  at  any 
moment— which  way  I  cannot  tell.  Let  me  say  to  you  all:  Let 
us  mourn  his  loss  as  one  only  gone  before  ;  and,  by  imitating  his 
example,  death  will 'never  come  too  soon. 

Your  son  and  brother, 

WILLIAM  FITCH. 

The  following  lines  were  written  for  the  "  St.  Lawrence 
Plain  dealer/'  after  reading  the  above. 

BY    MRS.    H.    E.    BISHOP    It'cONKEY. 

The  death  shots  were  falling  like  rain-drops  around ; 
The  dead  and  the  dying  were  strewing  the  ground ; 
The  groans  of  the  wounded  were  filling  the  air, 
From  the  proud,  boastful  rebs.  came  the  wail  of  despair. 

They  fled  in  confusion,  in  panic  and  fright, 

Our  forces  closed  on  them,  thus  ending  the  fight; 

A  victory  most  glorious  our  MEN  had  achieved, 

And  the  Sixtieth  New  York  won  them  bright  laurel  wreaths. 

No  longer  is  deaf 'ning  the  cannon's  loud  rattle, 
Nor  the  hissing  of  shells,  as  in  thick  of  the  battle, 
But  in  clear  bugle  notes,  "  Three  cheers  be  then  given, 
For  the  victory's  won  I"  since  so  favored  by  heaven. 

Three  cheers  for  the  victory  was  shouted  aloud ; 
Three  cheers  for  the  Union  went  up  to  the  clouds, 
.  And  the  mountain  crags  echoed  the  cheers  back  again, 
Till  nature  seemed  mingling  in  one  glad  refrain. 


THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES.  317 

"  My  God,  I  cannot !"  and  he  knelt  by  the  dying, 
Who  on  the  cold  earth  very  calmly  was  lying, 
To  catch  his  last  words  as  he  bent  low  his  ear — 
He  felt  'twas  a  victory  bought  very  dear. 

"I  CAN  CHEER!  0  my  brother,"  he  smilingly  said, 
"  I  can  cheer,  if,  dear  brother,  the  rebels  have  fled"; 
No  regrets  have  I  now  that  my  life  has  been  given." 
And  the  battle  scene  closed  for  bright  visions  of  Heaven. 

He  died  far  away  from  his  kindred  and  home, 
And  his  grave  is  not  marked  by  the  sculptured  stone ; 
But  high,  very  high,  on  the  Temple  of  FAME, 
In  glory  and  honor  is  engraven  his  name. 

The  regiment  remained  at  Ring-gold  three  days,  when, 
having  destroyed  the  railroad  and  bridges,  and  burned  the 
village,  they  returned  to  their  camp  on  the  Raccoon  Moun 
tain,  on  the  1st  of  December,  fatigued  and  shoeless,  but  abun-  • 
dantly  satisfied  with  their  week's  work.  It  had  been  the 
grandest  and  most  important  week  in  the  Ijfttory  of  the  war. 
Its  results  cannot  be  measured ;  its  importance  cannot  be  over 
stated.  General  Bragg  sent  a  flag  of  truce  to  General  Grant, 
on  the  22d  of  November,  advising  him  to  remove  non-com 
batants  from  Chattanooga,  as  he  intended  to  open  on  the  place 
at  once.  Lookout  Mountain,  Missionary  Ridge,  and  Ringgold, 
was  the  unambiguous  response  of  the  energetic  and  unflinch 
ing  Leader  of  the  Union  Hosts  ! 

On  the  3d,  the  following  order  was  promulgated : 

HEAD  QUARTERS  SECOND  DIVISION  TWELFTH  A.  C. 

WAUHATCHIE,  TENN.,  DEC.  3,  18G3. 
GENERAL  ORDERS,  No.  79. 

A  most  important  era  in  the  present  contest  for  a  national  exist 
ence  has  just  been  passed  !  Battles  culminating  in  the  grandest 
success,  fought  and  won,  and  the  part  taken  by  the  troops  in  this 
Division,  in  the  engagements  by  which  it  has  been  marked, 
having  reflected  so  much  honor  upon  themselves  as  individuals, 


318  THE   IMPORTANT    VICTORIES- 

and  upon  the  command  to  which  they  are  attached,  the  General 
Commanding  cannot  refrain  from  alluding  to  these  services  in 
terms  which  shall  convey,  in  some  measure,  his  warm  apprecia 
tion  of  their  valor,  their  patriotism,  and  their  noble  endurance  of 
severe  hardships  while  engaged  in  the  arduous  campaign. 

With  heartfelt  pride,  he  reverts  to  their  prowess  in  the  assaults 
which  made  them  the  heroes  of  Lookout  Mountain  en  the  24th 
ult.,  and  to  their  gallant  conduct  upon  Missionary  Ridge  on  the 
25th;  Peavine  Creek  on  the  26th ;  and  at  Ringgold  upon  Taylor's 
Ridge  on  the  27th. 

The  conquest  of  Lookout  Mountain  will,  associated  with  the 
emblematic  "White  Star"  of  the  conquerors,  stand  out  as  pro 
minently  in  history  as  do  the  bristling  clifts  of  that  Titanic  emi 
nence  upon  the  horizon.  For  these  services  he  tenders  them  his 
heartfelt  thanks ;  for  their  endurance,  his  sympathy ;  for  their 
bereavements  of  the  loss  of  so  many  gallant  officers  and  so  many 
brave  and  noble  men,  his  condolence.  In  all  the  Division  death 
could  not  have  selected  braver  spirits,  nobler  hearts,  than  those 
who  have  laid  their  lives  as  a  sacrifice  upon  their  country's  altar 
in  the  recent  engagements  with  the  rebel  forces. 

He  assures  them  that  their  gallant  conduct  has  gained  for  them 
the  high  esteem  and  appreciation  of  their  General  Commanding. 

It  behooves  us  to  remember,  prayerfully,  that  the  hand  of  the 
Omnipotent  Architect  of  the  Universe  is  visible  in  our  great  vic 
tories,  and  that  He  who  holds  in  his  hands  the  destinies  of  Na 
tions,  has,  in  His  goodness,  answered  the  humble  petitions  for 
success  to  crown  our  arms,  which  ascended  from  anxious  hearts 
to  his  heavenly  throne. 

By  Command  of 

Brigadier-General  JOHN  W.  GEARY. 

THOS.  II.  ELLIOTT,  Captain  and  A.  A.  G. 

On  the  7th,  the  President  issued  the  following  Proclama 
tion  : 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION, 

WASHINGTON,  Dec.  7th,  1863. 

Reliable  information  being  received  that  the  insurgent  force  is 
retreating  from  East  Tennessee,  under  circumstances  rendering 
it  probable  that  the  Union  forces  cannot  hereafter  be  dislodged 


THE   IMPORTANT    VICTORIES.  319 

from  that  important  position  ;  and  esteeming  this  to  be  of  high 
National  consequence,  I  recommend  that  all  loyal  people  do,  on 
the  receipt  of  this,  informally  assemble  at  their  respective  places 
of  worship,  and  render  special  homage  and  gratitude  to  Almighty 
God  for  this  great  advancement  of  the  National. cause. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

How  many  thousand  hearts  exultingly  responded : 

Our  Father  in  heaven  !  we  bless  thee  to-day, 
Thy  love  has  been  shown  to  our  beautiful  land ; 

The  demon  of  evil  is  fleeing  away, 

It  shrinks  from  the  wrath  of  thy  powerful  hand. 

Our  lips  fail  to  utter  the  thanks  we  would  tell, 

Our  hearts  are  oppressed  with  their  volume  of  praise ; 

We  can  only  cry  humbly,  Lord,  it  is  well ! 
That  thou  in  rich  mercy  prolongeth  our  days ! 

Let  thy  loving  Spirit  descend  on  the  plain 
Where  fiercely  resounds  the  alarum  of  war  ; 

Look  down  on  the  tempest-tossed  over  the  main, 
Be  thou  their  Protector  and  sure  "  Guiding  Star." 

With  hands  stretched  to  heaven",  we  bless  thee  again, 
And  bow  to  the  earth  as  we  call  upon  thee,. 

While  o'er  the  whole  nation  is  borne  the  refrain — 
Thank  God  for  his  kindness — a  people  are  free ! 

The  next  day  the  President  wrote  to  General  Grant — 

WASHINGTON,  December  8th. 

MAJOR-GENERAL  GRANT:  Understanding  that -your  lodgment 
at  Chattanooga  and  Knoxville  is  now  secure,  I  wish  to  tender 
you  and  all  under  your  command,  my  more  than  thanks — my 
profoundest  gratitude — for  the  skill,  courage  and  perseverance 
with  which  you  and  they,  over  so  great  difficulties,  have  effected 
that  important  object.  God  bless  you  all ! 

A.  LINCOLN.' 

The  following  congratulatory  order  was  immediately  pro 
mulgated  : 


320  THE    IMPORTANT   VICTORIES. 

HEADQUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI, 
IN  THE  FIELD,  CHATTANOOGA,.  TENN.,  Dec.  10th,  1863. 

GENERAL  ORDERS,  No.  9. 

The  General  Commanding  takes  the  opportunity  of  returning 
his  sincere  thanks  and  congratulations  to  the  brave  Armies  of 
the  Cumberland,  the  Ohio,  the  Tennessee,  and  their  comrades 
from  the  Potomac,  for  the  recent  splendid  and  decisive  successes 
achieved  over  the  enemy.  In  a*  short  time  you  have  recovered 
from  him  the  control  of  the  Tennessee  fiver  from  Bridgeport  to 
Knoxville.  You  dislodged  him  from  his  great  stronghold  on 
Lookout  Mountain,  drove  him  from  Chattanooga  Valley,  wrested 
from  his  determined  grasp  the  possession  of  Missionary  Ridge, 
repelled  with  heavy  loss  to  him  his  repeated  assaults  upon  Knox 
ville,  forcing  him  to  raise  the  siege  there,  driving  him  at  all 
points,  utterly  routed  and  discomfited,  beyond  the  limits  of  the 
State.  By  your  noble  heroism  and  determined  courage  you  have 
most  effectually  defeated1  the  plans  of  the  enemy  for  regaining 
possession  of  the  States  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee.  You  have 
secured  positions  from  which  no  rebellious  power  can  drive  or 
dislodge  you.  For  all  this  the  General  Commanding  thanks  you 
collectively  and  individually.  The  loyal  people  of  the  United 
States  thank  and  bless  you.  ^  Their  hopes  and  prayers  for  your 
success  against  this  unholy  rebellion  are  with  you  daily.  Their 
faith  in  you  will  not  be  in  vain.  Their  hopes  will  not  be  blasted. 
Their  prayers  to  Almighty  God  will  be  answered.  You  will  yet 
go  to  other  fields  of  strife  ;  and  with  the  invincible  bravery  and 
unflinching  loyalty  to  justice  and  right  which  have  characterized 
you  in  the  past,  you  will  prove  that  no  enemy  can  withstand  you, 
and  that  no  defences,  however  formidable,  can  check  your  onward 
march. 

By  order  of  Major-General  U.  S.  GRANT. 

T.  S.  BOWERS,  Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

On  the  15th,  a  very  pleasant  episode  broke  in  upon  the 
monotonous  routine  of  camp-life.  All  the  rebel  flags  captured 
at  Lookout  Mountain  were  taken  by  the  3d  Brigade,  composed 
wholly,  as  before  noticed',  of  New  York  troops.  "  M.  S.,"  of 
the  149th  N.  Y.,  in  a  letter  to  the  "  Onondaga  Standard,"  thus 
describes  the  pleasant  scene  to  which  I  have  alluded. 


THE   IMPORTANT   VICTORIES.  ,  321 

I  have  already  informed  your  readers  that  our  regiment  cap 
tured  four  rebel  banners  during  the  recent  campaign,  including 
the  storming  of  Lookout  Mountain  and  the  still  more  terrific 
storm  of  leaden  hail  through  which  they  passed  at  Ringgold. 
The  flags  were  all. brought  into  camp,  and  exhibited  with  modest 
pride,  as  incontrovertible  evidences  of  the  desperate  character  of 
the  fight  in  which  they  were  engaged,  and  the  daring  bravery  of 
their  captors ;  but  it  is  well  understood  that  all  such  trophies 
must  be  sent  to  the  War  Department  through  the  proper  channels, 
and  hence  our  regiment  did  not  expect  to  retain  the  flags  in  its 
possession. 

But,  in  consideration  of  the  extent  of  the  capture,  General 
Geary,  commanding  2d  Division,  12th  Army  Corps,  and  Colonel 
Ireland,  commanding  3d  Brigade,  kindly  consented  not  only  to 
permit  the  public  presentation  of  the  banners  (a  privilege  not 
accorded  to  any  other  regiment  during  the  war)  to  General 
Hooker,  but  attended  themselves,  accompanied  by  their  staff- 
officers,  and  took  part  in  the  presentation  ceremonies,  and  by 
their  presence  greatly  enhanced  the  interest  and  brilliancy  of  the 
display. 

Colonel  Ireland  also  generously  tendered  the  services  of  the 
Brigade  Band,  whose  music  added  largely  to  the  pleasure  of  the 
occasion. 

Accordingly,  on  the  morning  of  the  15th  inst.,  the  149th  Re 
giment,  bearing  the  captured  colors  and  their  own  bullet-riddled 
flag,  marched  from  their  new  camp  to  Brigade  Headquarters, 
where  a  formal  presentation  of  the  flags  was  made  to.  Colonel 
Ireland.  They  were  here  joined  by  Colonel  Ireland  and  staff, 
and  proceeded  to  headquarters  of  the  2d  Division,  where  they 
were  received  by  General  Geary  and  his  staff. 

The  regiment  being  drawn  up  in  line,  Colonel  Barnum  pre 
sented  the  captured  banners  to  General  Geary,  in  a  neat  and 
appropriate  address,  which  was  replied  to  by  General  Geary  in 
eloquent  and  complimentary  terms. 

At  the  close  of  his  remarks,  three  rousing  cheers  were  given 
for  General  Geary,  and  three  more  for  the  White  Star,  the  emblem 
.of  his  Division. 

Our  regiment  was  permitted  to  retain  the  flags,  and  another 
rebel  banner,  captured  by  our  brave  and  generous  companions- 


322  THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES. 

in-arms,  the  60th  New  York  Volunteers,  was  added  to  the  num 
ber,  and  carried  in  the  ranks  by  a  soldier  of  the  60th.* 

At  the  command,  the  regiment  formed  in  order  of  march,  and 
led  by  General  Geary  and  his  slaff,  together  with  Colonel  Ireland 
and  staff,  and  a  number  of  officers  of  other  regiments  in  the  3d 
Brigade,  proceeded  to  the  Headquarters  of  General  Hooker,  about 
two  miles  distant,  where  the  final  presentation  ceremonies  were 
to  take  place. 

The  regiment  was  drawn  up  in  open  order  on  the  area  in  front 
of  General  Hooker's  headquarters,  being  in  two  lines,  with  the 
company  officers  in  front  of  the  regiment,  and  the  bearers  of  the 
captured  banners  a  few  paces  farther  in  front,  on  a  line  with  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Randall,  commanding  the  regiment,  with  our  own 
war-worn  Stars  and  Stripes  towering  above  them  in  the  centre, 
and  the  battle-flag  of  the  2d  Division  and  3d  Brigade  on  the  right 
and  left.  In  front  of  the  captured  banners  the  commanding  form 
of  General  Geary  was  conspicuous,  with  Colonel  Barnum  stand- 
.ing  near  him.  On  the  right  of  the  regiment  the  Brigade  Band 
occupied  its  proper  position,  and  in  front  of  the  band  Colonel  Ire 
land  and  Division  and  Brigade  staffs,  together  with  a  brilliant 
array  of  spectators,  were  assembled. 

At  this  moment  the  picture  was  well  worthy  the  pen  and  pencil 
of  an  artist.  The  ranks  of  bronzed  and  war-worn  soldiers,  whose 
valor  had  wrested  so  many  trophies  from  the  hands  of  a  desper 
ate  enemy,  each  man  exhibiting  the  steadiness  and  discipline  of 
veterans,  formed  a  spectacle  that  every  Syracusan,  at  least,  might 
well  view  with  pride  and  gratification ;  while  the  brilliant  uni 
forms  and  glittering  arms  of  the  officers  assembled  to  witness  the 
somewhat  novel  presentation  ceremonies,  gave  animatien  and 
beauty  to  the  scene. 

General  Geary  presented  the  banners  in  a  most  appropriate 
and  eloquent  address,  in  which  he  alluded  to  the  incidents  of  the 
recent  campaign,  which  had  resulted  so  successfully  for  the  Union 
arms.  The  storming  of  Lookout  Mountain  ranked  among  the 
most  romantic  as  well  as  the  most  important  incidents  in  the 

*  This  should  have  been  so  carried,  but  I  am  informed  that 
M.  S.  is  incorrect  in  his  statement.  The  flag  captured  by  the 
60th  is  the  largest  in  the  collection. 


THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES.  323 

history  of  the  rebellion,  and  the  achievement  will  be  remembered 
so  long  as  the  giant  monument  rears  its  majestic  head  towards 
the  stars,  whose  sparkling  glory  forms  the  symbol  of  its  conquer 
ors.  The  trophies  of  the  victory  were  brought  here  to  be  laid  at 
the  feet  of  their  beloved  commander,  who,  as  a  soldier  and  a  man, 
we  all  delight  to  honor. 

'  He  also  paid  a  high  compliment  to  Colonel  Barnum,  whose 
active  services  on  the  Peninsula  were  well  remembered  and 
appreciated,  and  who,  although  suffering  from  a  severe  and  pain 
ful  wound,  was  nevertheless  foremost  among  the  leaders  in  the 
storming  of  Lookout  Mountain,  where  he  received  a  second  severe 
wound,  while  encouraging  his  men  by  voice  and  example. 

He  concluded  by  introducing  Colonel  Barnum,  who  was  ex 
pected  to  make  some  remarks  on  the  occasion. 

Colonel  Barnum  stepped  to  the  front,  and  made  a  very  hand 
some  speech,  of  which  I  am  only  able  to  send  you  the  following 
very,  imperfect  sketch : 

GENERAL:  The  future  historian,  in  recording  the  events  that 
we  are  daily  enacting,  will  write  pages  which  will  vie  in  bril 
liancy  and  intensity  of  interest  with  the  proudest  deeds  of  any 
people.  As  "  all  the  world  is  a  stage  and  we  are  actors  thereon/' 
so  is  the  American  people  performing  one  of  the  masterpieces  on 
the  bills  of  time.  Alas !  that  it  is  all  a  tragedy  !  To  justly  ap 
preciate  the  progress  of  the  piece,  let  us  cast  a  retrospective  glance 
at  the  rising  of  the  curtain  in  the  second  scene.  -The  hastily 
gathered  force  of  the  Republic  throw  themselves  impetuously 
against  the  prepared  ranks  of  the  insurgents,  and  following  the 
result,  a  pall,  heavy  and  dark  as  Egyptian  midnight,  settled  upon 
our  Northern  people.  The  line  of  the  Ohio  constituted  the 
Southern  boundary  of  the  loyal  States,  and  the  rebel  flag  flaunted 
defiance  in  sight  of  the  dome  of  the  Capitol.  To-day  how  differ 
ent  a  scene  the  stage  displays.  To-day  the  victorious  armies  of 
the  Republic  hem  in  the  insurgents  on  all  sides,  as  you  have  seen 
a  cordon  of  fire  devouring  the  woods  that  crown  these  mountain 
peaks.  Grant's  devoted  forces  have  fastened  their  hydra  arms 
around  the  vitals  of  the  enemy,  and  its  spasmodic  throes  are  pal 
pably  the  dying  struggle. 

Numerous  have  been  the  brilliant  episodes  of  the  contest,  but 
chiefest  of  them  all,  and  equal  in  its  tragic  splendor  to  the  proud- 


324  THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES. 

est  effort  of  any  people,  is  our  own  recent  achievement — Hooker's 
fight  above  the  clouds — the  storming  and  capture  of  Lookout 
Mountain.  Thankful  are  we,  sir,  that  you  gave  the  "White 
Star"  the  post  of  honor,  always  the  post  of  danger.  You  have 
been  pleased  to  commend  us  for  our  deeds  on  that  day,  under  the 
lead  of  our  beloved  General,  and,  to-day,  by  his  and  your  permis- 
siop,  we  lay  at  your  feet  our  trophies  of  the  conflict  and  with 
them  that  of  our  gallant  brothers-in-arms,  the  60th  New  York. 
Receive  them,  sir,  not  alone  as  the  evidence  of  our  powers,  but 
also  as  mute  but  eloquent  witnesses  of  the  brilliant  conceptions 
and  daring  boldness  of  the  model  soldier,  who  has  given  his  name 
to  the  proud  deed. 

At  the  close  of  his  remarks,  the  bearers  of  the  captured  flags 
came  forward,  and  each  banner  was  presented  with  appropriate 
remarks  by  Colonel  Barnum,  detailing  the  incidents  attending 
its  capture. 

The  flags  were  received  by  Major-General  Butterfield,  Chief  of 
Staff,  in  behalf  of  General  Hooker ;  and,  on  receiving  them, 
General  Butterfield  remarked  that  the  feelings  of  the  General 
commanding  had  been  well  expressed  in  the  order  issued  imme 
diately  after  the  return  of  the  2d  Division  from  the  campaign, 
and  he  could  add  nothing  farther. 

Three  cheers  were  then  given  for  General  Hooker,  three  more 
for  General  Butterfield,  and  three,  for  the  glorious  Stars  and 
Stripes,  and  the  149th  Regiment  again  formed  in  order  of  march 
and  returned  to  camp,  under  command  of  Captain  Hopkias. 

Subsequently  these  flags  were  disposed  of  by  the  following 
order : 

SPECIAL  FIELD  ORDER,  No.  34. 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND, 

CHATTANOOGA,  TENN.,  Dec.  22d,  1863. 

Colonel  II.  A.  Barnum,  commanding  149th  Regiment  New  York 
Volunteers,  and  Sergeant-Major  Mortimer  B.  Birdseye,  of  the 
same  regiment,  are  hereby  selected,  for  their  gallant  conduct  in 
the  battle  of  Chattanooga,  to  take  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  and 
deliver  to  the  Adjutant-General,  the  flags  captured  by  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland  from  the  rebels  in  that  battle.  Colonel 


THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES.  325 

Barnum  will  go  by  way  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and   exhibit  the 
flags  at  the  Fair  of  the  United  States  Sanitary  Commission,  which 
is  to  meet  in  that  city  on  the  21st  instant,  after  which  he  will 
proceed  to  Washington.1 
By  command  of 

Major-General  GEO.  H.  THOMAS. 
C.  GODDARD, 

Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

The  flags  were  exhibited  at  Cincinnati,  also  at  a  Fair  for 
the  benefit  of  the  Sanitary  Commission  at  Syracuse,  and  then, 
by  a  vote  of  the  Assembly,  to  the  New  York  Legislature,  in 
session  at  Albany,  and,  at  length,  reached  their  destination, 
the  Adjutant-General's  Office,  in  Washington. 

Not  being  at  liberty  to  use  any  official  papers,  as  such,  in 
preparing  the  account  of  the  battles  for  this  chapter,  although 
having  had  access  to  several  which  can  be  made  public  only 
aftqr  they  have  been  published  by  authority  of  the  Secretary 
of  War,  and  feeling  that  the  friends  of  the  regiment,  as  well 
as  the  regiment  itself,  will  be  gratified  to  see  an  account  which 
gives,  as  the  publication  of  those  papers  will  yet  show,  the 
essential  facts,  I  subjoin  a  statement  furnished  to  the  Phila 
delphia  "Press,"  by  a  Staff-Officer  in  high  position  in  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland  : 

Bragg  was  overwhelmingly  defeated,  and  driven  into  the  heart 
of  Georgia,  by  a  continuous  series  of  brilliant  battles,  com 
mencing  with .  the  storming  of  Lookout  Mountain,  November 
24th,  and  ending  with  the  battle  of  Ringgold,  or  Taylor's  Ridge, 
November  27th.  In  this  grand  move,  the  army  operated  in  three 
Divisions,  the  right  wing  under  Hooker,  the  left  under  Sher 
man,  and  -the  centre  under  Granger  and  Palmer. 

Sherman's  advance  had  reached  Lookout  .Valley  (where 
Hooker's  command  lay)  on  the  19th.  His  troops  crossed  the 
river,  at  Brown's  Ferry,  without  delay,  passed  the  rear  of  Chat 
tanooga,  and  took  position  opposite  the  mouth  of  Chickamauga, 
thus  forming  a  left  wing  to  our  army.  Here  they  were  succes 
sively  massed,  during  three  days,  as  they  arrived. 
28 


326  THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES. 

On  the  22d,  one  of  Sherman's  Divisions,  under  Osterhaus,  had 
not  come  up. 

The  llth  Corps  was  detached  from  Hooker  and  sent  to  Sher 
man  ;  and  Osterhaus,  who  arrived  on  the  23d,  was  assigned  to 
Hooker.  During  these  changes  of  position,  Geary's  Division  of 
the  12th  Corps  occupied  the  entire  front  line  of  Hooker's  com 
mand  in  Lookout  Valley. 

Towering  3,000  feet  above  the  valley,  rises  Lookout  Mountain, 
the  highest,  by  far,  in  this  mountain  region.  On  its  side,  among 
the  rocks,  2,000  feet  above  us,  were  encamped  Walthall's  and 
Churchill's  Brigades  of  Walker's  Division,  Hardee's  Corps.  Two 
more  Brigades  lay  on  the  summit,  a  mile  from  the  rocky  preci 
pice  which  crowns  the  point  of  Lookout.  Around  the  brow  of 
the  mountain,  high  above  its  side,  overlooking  Chattanooga,  lay 
another  rebel  Division.  The  position  occupied  by  Walker's 
troops — so^.strong  a  mountain  fastness  as  to  be  generally  deemed 
impregnable — had  been  further  improved'  by  timber  slashings, 
earthworks  and  artillery,  while  upon  the  highest  peak  were 
those  long-range  guns,  whose  musical  shells  had  long  been  our 
daily  visitors.  There,  too,  was  their  signal  station,  from  which 
they  could  detect  our  slightest  movement,  and  almost  count  our 
men.  Not  a  camp,  a  bridge,  or  a  road  in  our  lines  but  could  be 
closely  scanned  with  the  naked  eye  from  Lookout  summit.  For 
many  weeks  had  our  army  gazed  wistfully  upon  that  cloud-capped 
summit,  and  coveted  its  possession  ;  but  "  to  storm  Lookout"  was 
an  idea  only  uttered  to  be  laughed  at.  But  Hooker,  who  had 
driven  Longstreet  out  of  Lookout  Valley,  and  saved  Chattanooga 
to  our  brave  army,  told  General  Thomas  he  could  take  the  moun 
tain  as  well  as  the  valley,  with  Geary's  Division,  and  to  him  the 
contract  was  given. 

At  3  A.  M.,  November  24th,  General  Geary  received  orders  to 
take  his  Division,  at  daylight,  across  Lookout  Creek,  two  and  a 
half  miles  above  its  mouth,  and  storm  the  mountain.  Whitaker's 
Brigade,  of  1st  Division,  14th  Army  Corps,  reported)  by  order, 
to  General  Geary,  to  support  the  storming  column.  A  Brigade 
from  the  4th  Corps,  under  Colonel  Gross,  was  placed  near  the 
mouth  of  the  creek,  to  divert  the  attention  of  the  enemy  by  a 
feint  of  crossing.  If  necessary,  Gross  was  to  cross  at  that  point, 
and  support  General  Geary's  storming  column.  Osterhaus' 


THE     IMPORTANT    VICTORIES.  327 

Division  was  held  in  reserve  near  the  mouth  of^the  creek,  to  be 
brought  up  also  as  a  support  at  the  critical  moment.  Finally, 
six  pieces  of  artillery,  under  Major  Reynolds,  Geary's  chief  of 
artillery,  were  brought  to  bear  upon  the  rebel  position. 

General  Geary  moved  at  daylight,  and  threw  a 'narrow  foot 
bridge  across  the  creek.  On  this  his  troops  crossed  on  the  double- 
quick — the  2d  Brigade  (Cobham's)  leading ;  Greene's  old  Brigade, 
the  3d,  commanded  by  Colonel  Ireland,  followed;  next  came 
"VVhitaker's  and  then  Candy's.  Straight  up  the  mountain  side 
the  troops  climbed,  where  the  ascent  was  so  steep  that  hands  as 
well  as  feet  must  be  used  to  make  their  way.  Above  their  heads, 
on  the  rock-bound  summit,  fluttered  the  red  signal  flag  of  the 
enemy,  apparently  in  violent  agitation.  But  few  shots  were  ex 
changed  until  the  rebel  pickets  were  captured,  and  Cobham, 
having  reached  the  precipice  'of  rock  at  the  summit,  changed 
direction,  and  advanced  in  line  on  the  flank  of  the  rebel  camp. 
Ireland,  on  his  left,  did  the  same — the  two  Brigades  forming  a 
line  of  bayonets  from  the  precipice  to  the  valley,  and  sweeping 
through  the  roads,  over  rocks,  down  ravines,  and  up  again  on 
the  other  side,  right  onward,  without  a  moment's  pause,  into  the 
rebel  camp. 

The  102d  New  York  was  in  advance  as  skirmishers,  and  the 
first  who  fell  was  its  brave,  high-souled  young  Major,  Gilbert  M. 
Elliott.  The  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Robert  Avery,  lost  a  leg,  and 
the  line  pressed  on  to  avenge  the  loss,  and  came  suddenly  into  a 
rebel  camp.  "Put  down  those  guns,"  our  boys  shouted,  and  the 
rebels,  like  disciplined  soldiers,  obeyed  the  order,  and  went  to 
the  rear,  guided  by  three  or  four  blue-coats.  By  this  time,  the 
two  Brigades  were  up  with  their  skirmishers,  and  all  pressed 
forward  together;  the  mountain  sides  echoing  with  their  cheers, 
which  were  taken  up  by  Whitaker's  and  Candy's  men,  who, 
forming  the  second  line,  were  trying  hard  to  come  up  with  those 
m  advance. 

The  main  body  of  the  two  rebel  Brigades,  secure,  as  they 
thought,  in  their  stronghold,  awaited  our  troops.  Onward  our 
two  Brigades  pressed,  poured  in  a  deadly  volley,  and  followed  it 
up  with  glittering  steel.  The  rebel  line  broke,  and  never  rallied, 
for  no  time  was  given  them.  Down  in  the  valley,  the  reserve 
troops  saw  the  glorious  charge,  and  sent  up  cheer  after  cheer, 


328  THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES. 

answered  by  the  boys  on  the  mountain  heights,  as  they  pressed 
on  after  the  flying  foe.  In  vain  the  enemy  brought  up  their 
reserves;  and  tried  to  cfieck  the  charge.  Prisoners  were  quickly 
''gobbled  up,"  hundreds  at  a  time,  and  sent  to  the  rear.  On 
and  through  the  rebel  earthworks,  and  around  the  brow  of  the 
mountain,  the  lines  swept  on  in  the  clear  sunlight,  the  clouds 
beneath  them.  Turning  the  sharp  ridge,  at  the  mountain  brow, 
they  carne  in  sight  of  the  thousands  of  troops  in  Chattanooga, 
'who,  collected  on  every  hill  in  that  place  in  great  crowds,  sent 
up  a  tremendous  cheer,  that  echoed  from  mountain  to  mountain 
and  back  again,  as  they  saw  that  resistless  charge  above  the 
cloud.  Never  was  such  a  sight  in  war  before  of  troops,  two 
thousand  feet  from  the  valley  they  left,  sweeping  forward  in  the 
battle  charge  like  dark,  blue,  angry  storm-clouds  themselves. 

Here,  on -the  face  of  the  mountain  overlooking  Chattanooga, 
were  strong  earthworks,  and  the  rebels  seemed,  for  a  moment,  to 
think  of  holding  them,  but  it  was  only  for  moment,  for  our 
troops  were  above  them,  and  into  them,  and  through  them,  and 
had  captured  their  men,  and  their  works,  arid  their  cannon,  with 
out  giving  them  notice. 

Osterhaus'  Division  and  Gross'  Brigade  had  crossed  Lookout 
Creek,  and  were  now  seen  climbing  up  the  mountain  side.  Ire 
land  and  Cobham  pushed  right  on,  around  the  face  of  the  moun 
tain,  keeping  their  right  close  up  to  the  rocky  cliffs,  and  followed 
by  Whitaker  and  Candy. 

The  60th  New  York  Volunteers  first  reached  the  cannon  in 
the  works,  and  placed  their  flags  upon  them.  Their  Major, 
Thomas,  was  severely  wounded  in  this  part  of  the  charge.  From 
the  summit  of  the  cliffs,  fifty  feet  overhead,  thundered,  in  angry 
spite,  rebel  cannon,  but  the  depression  was  too  great,  they  could 
not  strike  our  men.  Hundreds  of  their  sharpshooters  on  those 
cliffs  kept  up  a  galling  fire  on  our  troops.  Our  sharpshooters 
quickly  got  to  work,  and  returned  them  as  good  as  they  serit. 
This  musketry  fire,  from  the  cliffs,  among  our  lines,  was  kept  up 
until  late  in  the  night,  by  the  bright  moonlight.  On  this  brow 
of  the  mountain,  Whitaker's  and  Candy's  Brigades  were  halted, 
and  placed  in  position,  while  Ireland  and  Cobham  pushed  on 
past  the  "White  House,"  (Longstreet's  former  headquarters.) 


THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES.  329 

Here  they  were  ordered  to  halt,  form  a  strong  line,  and  strengthen 
their  position  with  stones  and  logs. 

Geary's  first. troops  had  crossed  Lookout  Creek  at  8J  A.  M. 
They  reached  the  White  House  at  12J.  They  had  captured,  on 
their  way,  two  thousand  prisoners,  thousands  of  small  arms,  two 
brass  cannon,  and  the  enemy's  fortifications,  and  had  opened  the 
old  stage  road  and  railroad  to  Chattanooga.  Enough  for  one 
day.  Osterhaus  soon  came  up,  and  formed  on  Geary's  left,  con 
necting  directly  with  Thomas's  main  army.  Gross's  Brigade 
came  up  from  below,  and  Carline's,  from  Chattanooga,  reported 
to  General  Geary,  and  with  troops  from  Candy's  and  Whitaker's 
Brigades,  relieved  Ireland's  and  Cpbham's  wearied  men.  Several 
attacks  by  the  enemy  were  made  on  our  lines  on  the  mountain 
during 'the  afternoon,  but  were  quickly  repulsed.  Prisoners  and 
deserters  continued  to  come  in  all  the  day.  Still  close  overhead, 
with  fifty  feet  of  inaccessible  precipice  between  us  and  them, 
were  rebel  cannon  and  rebel  sharpshooters.  General  Hooker 
directed*General  Geary  to  "strengthen  his  position,  and  hold  it 
against  everything ;"  adding,  "the  enemy  will  probably  evacuate 
the  summit  during  the  night." 

As  night  came  on,  the  air  became  excessively  cold.  Our  troops, 
without  blankets  or  overcoats,  built  large  fires,  and  spent  a  sleep 
less  night  around  them.  General  Hooker,  General  Geary,  and 
their  officers  of  Staff,  were  busy  through  the  whole  night.  Troops 
must  be  arranged,  the  position  strengthened,  and  large  supplies 
of  ammunition  brought  up,  and  issued  to  the  men  before  dawn. 
Neither  horse  nor  mule  could  climb  the  mountain  ;  it  was  enough 
for  men  to  do  without  burdens.  All  was  "done,  however.  The 
ammunition  was  brought  to  the  foot'of  the  mountain  in  wagons, 
and  carried  in  the  pockets  of  the  men  up  those  2,000  feet  of 
weary  ascent,  and  issued  in  full  supply  to  the  troops  before 
break  of  day. 

Daylight  came,  and  all  was  quiet  on  the  mountain.  The 
enemy  had  not  fired  a  shot  since  midnight.  They  must  have 
gone,  was  the  conjecture;  and  General  Geary  directed  men  to 
scale  the  cliffs,  and  solve  the  problem.  The  Stars  and  Stripes 
of  the  8th  Kentucky  were  taken  by  one  man,  and  the  "  White 
Star"  flag  of  Geary's  Division  by  another.  By  the  help  of  lad 
ders,  (placed  there  by  the  enemy,)  roots  and  twigs,  they  reached 
28* 


330  THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES. 

the  summit,  the  Stars  and  Stripes  a  few  moments  ahead.  The 
enemy  had  gone,  and  as  the  old  flag  of  one  country,  one  army, 
and  one  navy,  floated  triumphantly  from  that  rock,  the  whole 
army  on  the  mountain  and  in  the  valley  seemed  to  catch  the  sight 
for  which  they  were  gazing  into  the  clouds,  and  such  cheers  as 
rose  were  never  heard  before.  From  Major-Generals  to  Drum 
mer-Boys,  all  were  wild  with  excitement.  A  moment  more, 'and 
the  "bonnie  blue  flag  with  the  single  star,"  not  of  the  rebel 
host,  but  of  that  veteran  Division  who  had  stormed  and  carried 
Lookout,  stood  side  by  side  with  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  and 
Geary's  brave  boys,  who  had  followed  that  flag  on  the  Potomac, 
the  Shenandoah,  the  Rappaha^nnock,  the  Rapidan,  in  Maryland, 
Pennsylvania,  and  now  in  Tennessee,  were  prouder  than  ever 
before,  when,  as  they  thought  of  Wauhatckie,  they  stood  around 
their  General  on  Lookout. 

There,  too,  among  them  on  that  mountain,  was  Hooker,  his 
straight,  soldierly  form  swaying  with  the  excitement,  as  he 
cheered  with  the  rest,  and  his  keen  gray  eye,  beanyng  with 
exultation  and  congratulation  to  his  troops,  as  they  gave  three 
times  three  for  "  Uncle  Joe." 

A  garrison  was  placed  on  top  of  the  mountain,  and  a  signal 
station  established,  and  a  reconnoitring  party  sent  out  along  the 
mountain.  Your  correspondent  accompanied  the  party.  Some 
two  hundred  stragglers  from  the  rebel  army  were  picked  up, 
and  it  was  ascertained  that  their  main  force  had  evacuated  dur 
ing  the  night  in  utmost  haste,  leaving  their  camps,  supplies,  and 
most  of  their  baggage  and  stores.  At  Summertown,  one  mile 
from  the  point  of  Lookout,  we  found  twenty  thousand  rations  of 
excellent  hard  bread,  and  quite  a.  quantity  of  meal  and  flour.  A 
short  distance  beyond  were  the  camps  of  three  Brigades.  The 
haste  with  which  they  had  been  abandoned  was  proved  by  the 
tents  left  standing,  and  the  quantity  of  arms,  clothing  and  bag 
gage  left  there.  From  the  comfortable  appearance  of  the  camps, 
and  the  quantity  of  supplies  and  clothing,  I  judged  that  the 
enemy  had  expected  to  remain  in  that  position  a  considerable 
time,  and,  probably,  to  winter  there. 

Such  is  the  history  of  the  capture  of  Lookout  Mountain,  an 
achievement  which,  in  its  nature,  has  no  parallel  in  the  history 
of  war. 


THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES.  331 

When  before  did  troops,  in  plain  sight  of  the  enemy,  cross  a 
deep  creek,  guarded  by  the  foe-,  and  storm,  successfully,  a  moun 
tain  3,000  feet  high,  up  whose  sides  man  could  barely  climb, 
driving  everything  before  them,  and  this  without  a  single  re 
pulse,  or  even  pause  in  the  charge  ? 

Hooker's  plans,  with  Geary  as  the  executive,  have  proved  bril 
liant  successes  throughout.  Never  were  two  Generals  better 
suited  to  each  other,  or  to  the  troops  they  command. 

Nov.  25th.  Just  as  our  banner  waved  over  Lookout,  on  the 
morning  of  this  day,  Sherman,  having  crossed  near  the  mouth 
of  South  Chickamauga,  opened  the  attack  on  the  rebel  right, 
full  eight  miles  distant  from  Hooker's  position.  The  fighting  on 
that  flank  was  hard,  and  -lasted  the  entire  day.  About  10  A.  M. 
Hooker  received  orders  to  march  his  force  from  Lookout  Moun 
tain,  across  Chattanooga  Valley,  five  miles,  and  attack  the  enemy's 
left.  The  rebel  troops  from  Lookout  and  Chattanooga  Valley 
had  been  withdrawn  during  the  night  to  Mission  Kidge,  and 
there  his  whole  army,  fey  this  morning,  was  in  position  in  nearly 
a  straight  line,  his  right  resting  on  the  Tennessee  River,  and  his 
left  reaching  six  miles  beyond  on  the  ridge.  Sherman,  as  I  have 
said,  attacked  Bragg's  right  early  in  the  morning.  About  noon, 
Granger  and  Palmer  attacked  the  centre.  By  3  P.  M.,  Hooker, 
with  Geary's,  Osterhaus',  and  Cruft's  Divisions,  had  crossed  the 
valley,  and  attacked  their  left.  This  attack  was  made  by  Geary's, 
Cruft's,  and  Osterhaus'  Divisions.  Cruft  gained  the  top  of  the 
ridge  to  the  left  of  the  rebel  lines,  and  attacked  them  on  their 
flank,  while  Geary  charged  up  the  side -of  the  ridge,  in  their 
front.  This  simultaneous  attack  of  the  two  Divisions  broke  the 
rebel  left,  and  they  fled  in  great  confusion  into  the  Chickamauga 
Valley  beyond,  leaving  an  entire  Brigade  prisoners  in  Hooker's 
hands.  General  John  C.  Breckinriclge  barely  escaped  capture. 
His  son,  a  Lieutenant  of  his  Staff,  was  among  the  prisoners 
taken. 

The  attack  of  Granger  and  Palmer  on  the  enemy's  centre  had 
proved  equally  successful ;  while  Sherman,  after  a  day  of  hard 
fighting,  had  carried  their  right.  By  sunset  of  the  25th,  Mission 
Ridge,  with  thousands  of  prisoners  and  a  large  quantity  of  can 
non  and  staall  arms,  was  in  our  possession,  and  the  enemy  was 
iu  rapid  retreat,  with  shattered  columns,  across  the  Chickamauga. 


332  THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES. 

Of  the  fighting  this  day  of  the  Corps  under  Sherman,  Granger, 
and  Palmer,  I  cannot-  speali  in  detail,  as  my  observations  were 
confined  throughout  to  the  right  wing,  under  Hooker.  I  must 
not  be  supposed,  therefore,  to  .detract  from  the  gallant  deeds  of 
those. troops  who  carried  the  enemy's  right  and  centre.  I  simply 
leave  them  to  be  told  by  correspondents  who  know  what  occurred 
there. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  26th,  Hooker  was  ordered  to 
march  to  Ringgold,  by  way  of  Rossville,  while  the  other  Corps 
follpwed  the  route  taken  by  the  main  army  of  Bragg  in  retreat. 
At  Chickamauga  Station,  Bragg's  depot  of  supplies,  the  enemy 
had  burned  their  stores  and  trains.  At  numerous  other  points 
their  camps  and  trains  could  also  be  seen  burning.  Hooker 
moved  according  to  order,  Johnson's  Division,  of  Palmer's  Corps, 
having  reinforced  his  column.  All  along-fche  route  across  Chicka 
mauga  and  Pea  Vine  Valleys,  were  evidences  of  the  rate  at  which 
Bragg  was-  retreating,  in  the  shape  of  abandoned  caissons  and 
wagons.  A  host  of  rebel  stragglers  were  picked  up  and  sent  to 
the  rear.  The  enemy,  of  course,  had  destroyed  every  bridge, 
and  to  rebuild  these  the  pursuing  column  had  to  make  some 
delay.  The  troops  had  been  without  rations  for  twelve  hours, 
and  had  passed  two  nights  on  the  battle-fields  they  had  won 
without  overcoats  or  blankets,  for  the  most  part;  "but  there  were 
no  laggards  in  the  chase.  Bridges  for  the  infantry  were  thrown 
across  the  West  Chickamauga  and  Pea  Vine  Creeks,  as  we  came 
to  them,  and  the  horses  crossed  by  swimming. 

The  only  artillery  with  Hooker  was  two  sections  of  Knapp's 
Pennsylvania  Battery,  (10-pounder  Parrots.)  The  troops  crossed 
Pea  Vine  Creek  during  the  afternoon  of  the  26th,  but  the  stream 
was  too  deep  to  ford,  and  a  bridge,  for  the  artillery  to  cross,  was 
not  completed  until  eight  next  morning.  This  delay,  unavoida 
ble,  it  seems,  cost  us  some  valuable  lives  at  Ringgold. 

At  dusk  on  the  26th,  Hooker's  column  neared  Greyrille.  A 
Brigade  of  Breckinridge's  command  was  close  ahead,  and  not 
far  beyond  a  large  portion  of  Bragg's  army  lay  resting  near 
Ilinggold.  Suddenly  the  skirmishers  of  Johnson's  Division 
(which  was  in  advance)  came  upon  Ferguson's  battery,  one  gun 
of  which  we  had  captured  the  day  before.  With  a  volley  and  a 
rousing  cheer,  the  skirmishers,  who  were  a  detachment  of  the 


THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES.  333 

15th  United  States  Infantry,  rushed  upon  the  battery,  and  with 
out  a  shot  from  the  enemy,  captured  it  and  eighty  prisoners. 
The  noise  gave  the  alarm  to  the  rebel  rear-guard,  as  we  after 
wards  learned,  and  they  hastily  moved  on  and  joined  the  main 
body  near  Ringgold.  The  night  was  very  dark,  the  country 
much  broken  with  narrow  ravines,  and  before  us  was  the  deep 
stream  of  East  Chickamauga,  and  the  column  bivouacked  for 
the  night  within  four  miles  of  Ringgold,  Johnson's  Division 
taking  position  at  Greyville,  and  the  rest  of  the  command  on  the 
main  road  from  Rossville  to  Ringgold.  At  daylight,  on  the  27th, 
the  column  moved  forward,  Osterhaus  leading,  Geary  following, 
and  Cruft  bringing  up  the  rear.  In  -sight  of  Ringgold,  our  ad 
vance  came  upon  the  bivouac  fires  of  Breckinridge's  troops  tho 
night  before,  and  captured  a  number  of  stragglers  still  lingering 
there.  Close  the  other  side  of  .Ringgold,  the  railroad  passes 
through  a  narrow  gap  in  Taylor's  Ridge,  which  is  a  continuous 
range,  rather  higher  and  steeper  than  Mission  Ridge,  and  running 
in  the  same  general  direction,  north  and  south.  Here,  in  the 
gap,  and  on  the  summit  of  the  ridge,  on  each  side,  Cleburn's 
Division  was  posted  to  resist  our  advance,  and  enable  the  main 
rebel  army  to  get  well*  on  their  way  to  Dalton,  with  their  trains 
and  artillery.  At  7J  A.  M.,  Osterhaus  entered  the  town,  and 
immediately  formed  his  lines  under  heavy  fire,  at  the  foot  of  the 
ridge,  and  pushed  forward  heavy  skirmishers.  Geary  following 
immediately,  sent  his  1st  Brigade,  under  Colonel  Creighton,  of 
the  7th  Ohio,  some  distance  to  the  left  of  Osterhaus,  with  orders 
to  charge  up  the  steep  ridge  at  a  point  on  the  rebel  flank,  where 
their  line  seemed  weak.  When  he  gained  the  crest,  Creighton 
was  to  charge  impetuously  along  the  ridge,  sweeping  everything 
before  him.  Creighton  executed  the  movement  with  great 
rapidity,  but  the  enemy  divining  his  object  quickly,  massed  a 
heavy  force  above  him,  and  poured  a  sweeping  fire  down  the 
slope.  Still,  the  1st  Brigade  steadily  advanced,  the  7th  Ohio 
and  28th  Pennsylvania  in  front,  and  the  dashing  Creighton  fore 
most  of  all. 

Their  skirmishers  had  reached  the  crest,  and  the  7th  Ohio, 
commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Crane,  was  within,  twenty 
yards  of  the  summit,  when  they  received  a  terrible  volley  from 
three  sides.  Every  officer  of  the  7th,  excepting  two,  fell  there. 


334  THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES. 

Oeighton  and  Crane  fell  dead  within  a  few  feet  of  each  other. 
They  were  the  bravest  of  the  brave — such  officers  as  you  cannot 
replace,  and  their  loss  causes  unusual  mourning,  for  all  loved  and 
admired  them.  The  historic  7th  fell  slowly  back,  carrying  their 
wounded  and  some  of  their  dead  with  them.  Still  the  Brigade 

O 

held  its  position  on  the  slope  of  the  hill,  until  withdrawn  by 
General  Geary.  After  the  battle,  less  than  one  hundred  men, 
and  but  two  officers,  could  answer  to  the  roll-call  in  the  ranks  of 
the  7th.  The  regiment  had  long  been  the  pride  of  the  Division. 
In  drill,  discipline,  and  courage,  it  was  a  model,  and  its  proud 
flag  was  inscribed  with  twenty-five,  battle-fields.  Of  all  its  bat 
tles,  that  of  Taylor's  Ridge  struck  the  heaviest  blow  to  the  7th. 

While  Creighton's  Brigade,  for  two  hours,  was  fighting  on  the 
extreme  left,  Osterhaus  was  not  idle.  His  entire  Division  was 
warmly  engaged,  and  handled  with  great  skill,  but  they  could 
not  force  back  the  strongly-posted  lines  of  the  enemy,  who,  also, 
had  a  section  of  artillery  in  the  gap,  which  poured  grape  and 
ehrapnell  into  our  troops.  About  11  o'clock,  the  enemy,  by 
a  combined  musketry  and  artillery  fire,  forced  back  the  right  of 
Osterhaus'  Division  from  in  front  of  the  gap.  Quick  as  a  flash, 
Hooker  detected  the  movement,  and  Ireland's  and  Cobham's 
Brigades,  from  Geary's  Division,  were  double-quicked  to  the 
right,  and  sent  the  rebels  back  again,  capturing  two  battle- 
flags,  and  sustaining  the  battle  on  the  right  until  the  close,  at 
1  o'clock. 

For  hours  the  Generals  had  watched  for  the  arrival  of  Major 
Reynolds,  with  his  artillery.  The  bridge-building  over  Pea  Vine 
had  kept  him  back,  but  now,  at  noon,  his  gun's  came  thundering 
up,  wheeled  into  position,  and  opened  on  the  enemy's  artillery. 
Two  shots  silenced  their  troublesome  guns,  and  they  rumbled 
hastily  away,  and  were  afterwards  captured.  Then  the  muzzles 
of  the  Major's  Parrots  were  turned  to  the  crest  of  the  ridge,  and 
beautifully  the  shells  burst  just  where  they  were  wanted.  The 
enemy  was  evidently  withdrawing  across  the  bridge  the  other 
side  of  the  gap,  and,  under  cover  of  our  artillery  fire,  several 
regiments  of  Osterhaus'  advanced  and  reached  the  crest,  and  the 
battle  WAS  over.  The  enemy  had  withdrawn  and  fired  the  bridge. 
Our  skirmishers  went  through  the  gap  on  the  double-quick,  cap 
tured  a  few  prisoners,  and  extinguished  the  fire.  During  the 


THE     IMPORTANT    VICTORIES.  335 

fight,  Cruft's  Division  and  Palmer's  Corps  came  up,  but  were 
not  .brought  into  action. 

Towards  the  close,  General  Grant  arrived,  and  suspended  fur 
ther  pursuit.  Our  army  was  without  artillery,  and  most  of 
Hooker's  men  had  been  twenty-four  hours  without  rations.  The 
country  between  Einggold  and  Dalton  is  broken,  and  often  miry, 
and  a  pursuing  army  would  be  at  great  disadvantage  passing 
beyond  Taylor's  Ridge. 

Such  is  a  faithful  history  of  General  Hooker's  share  in  the 
brilliant  battles  of  the  24th,  25th,  and  27th  November. 

The  record  is  a  brilliant  one,  and  fully  justifies  the  wisdom  of 
the  selection  made  by  President  Lincoln,  when  he  designated 
Hooker  as  the  man  to  come  from  the  East  to  the  West,  to  the 
relief  of  our  noble  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 

Before  crossing  Lookout  -Creek  to  storm  the  mountain,  General 
Geary  called  his  Staff  and  Brigade  commanders  around  him, 
and  after  assigning  to  each  his  part,  said:  "Gentlemen,  we 
.must  not  fail.  I  intend  carrying  this  mountain  in  true  Stonewall 
Jackson  style."  And  so  the  deed  was  done. 

While  our  advance  lines  were  sweeping  the  mountain  heights 
in  their  resistless  charge,  among  the  hundreds  of  captured  rebels 
was  one,  who,  finding  our  bullets  rather  close  to  him  for  comfort, 
jumped  behind  a  rock.  As  our  troops  came  up,  he  stepped  out, 
unbuckled  and  dropped  his  cartridge-box,  and  introduced  him 
self  by  saying,  with  a  comical  shake  of  the  head,  "  How  are  you, 
Southern  Confederacy?" 

Major  Gilbert  M.  Elliott,  102d  New  York  Volunteers,  was  the 
first  man  shot.  He  was  in  command  of  a  line  of  skirmishers, 
and  was  a  conspicuous  mark,  wearing  on  his  breast  a  rich  gold 
and  silver  star,  the  badge  of  General  Geary's  Staff,  of  which  he 
was  formerly  a  member,  and  bearing  on  his  arm  his  overcoat 
cape,'' with  the  red  lining  outward.  The  ball  that  struck  him 
severed  an  artery,  and  before  he  could  be  carried  to  the  hospital, 
all  but  a  few  drops  of  his  life-blood  had  ebbed.  Still  he  w£s 
conscious,  and  when  the  Doctor  said,  "  My  dear  boy,  you  have 
but  fifteen  minutes  to  live,  what  shall  I  tell  your  friends  for 
you?"  "  Tell  them  I  died  a  brave  man,"  he  answered,  and  died. 
He  was  widely  known  in  the  army,  and  all  who  knew  him  loved 
him,  and  mourned  as  for  a  brother  lost,  yet  only  gone  before. 


336  THE   IMPORTANT   VICTORIES. 

The  Major  was  barely  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  a  young  . 
officer  of  rar£  ability  and  promise. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Avery,  of  the  same  regiment,  lost  a  leg. 
At  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  he  was,  as  supposed,  mortally 
wounded  through  the  mouth  and  neck,  but,  after  suffering  by  his 
wounds  from  May  3d  until  the  middle  of  October,  he  rejoined  his 
regiment  just  before  Hooker  crossed  the  Tennessee.  He  was  still 
unfit  for  duty,  but  determined  to  share  at  the  storming  of  Look 
out,  and  fell  early  in  the  action,  the  bone  of  his  leg  shattered  by 
a  rifle-ball  into  twenty  pieces.  Honor  to  the  brave!  For  all 
such  a  nation's  gratitude  should  provide  a  full  reward. 

When  Osterhaus  and  Geary  made  their  brilliant  charge  to 
gether  on  the  enemy's  lines  on  Mission  Ridge,  Stewart's  rebel 
brigade,  penned  up  between  the  two,  was  captured  entire,  to 
gether  with  Major  Wilson  and  Lieutenant  Breckinridge,  both  of 
Breckinridge's  staff.  The  brigade  of  prisoners,  without  arms, 
were  drawn  up  in  line,  and  General  Hooker,  mounted  on  a  dash 
ing  white  horse,  in  company  with  Generals  Geary  and  Osterhaus, 
and  staffs,  rode  down  the  line,  as  if 'on  review,  while  our  own 
men,  also  drawn  up  in  line,  cheered  vociferously.  Some  of  the 
prisoners,  especially  among  the  officers  of  higher  rank,  looked 
proud  and  chagrined,  but  there  were  many  who  seemed  rather 
better  pleased  to  be  reviewed  by  a  Yankee  general  than  by  one 
of  the  Southern  nobility. 

When  Colonel  Creighton,  with  his  brother-in-arms,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Crane,  was  leading  the  heroic  7th  Ohio  in  their  deadly 
charge  on  Taylor's  Ridge,  the  rebels  triumphantly  waved  the 
stars  and  bars  in  their  face,  and  but  a  few  paces  from  them: 
"  Boys,  do  you  see  that  flag  ?  Go  for  it !"  shouted  Crane.  The 
next  moment  a  rifle-ball  pierced  his  brain,  and  he  fell  dead  with 
out  a  quiver.  Creighton  sank  on  the  ground,  exclaiming:  "  My 
God,  there  goes  Crane  ! "  and  for  a  moment,  in  the  midst  of  that 
hailstorm  of  bullets,  he  wept  like  a  child ;  then  with  sudden  im 
pulse  he  sprang  up,  and  threw  himself  again  into  the  thickest  of 
the  fight  on  foot  with  his  men.  In  less  than  five  minutes  he  too 
fell,  a  ball  piercing  near  his  heart.  As  they  carried  him  off,  in 
husky  tones  he  shouted:  "  Hurrah  for  the  first  brigade  !  Hur 
rah  for  the  Union  !  Tell  my  wife" — and  died  on  the  field.  Ohio 
has  lost  many  of  her  noblest  sons  in  this  bloody  war,  and,  among 
them  all,  never  were  two  more  heroic  souls  offered  on  the  battle- 


THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES.  337 

field  than  those  of  Colonel  Creighton,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Crane.  Let  their  names  be  treasured  in  the  memory  of  those  afc 
home,  as  they  will  be  by  their  survivors  in  the  "  White  Star 
Division." 

Adjutant  Baxter,  of  the  7th  Ohio,  was  wounded  by  five  bul 
lets,  and  left  near  the  crest  of  the  hill,  as  the  scattered  remnant 
of  his  regiment  fell  back.  A  few  hours  afterwards  he  was  found 
on  the  other  side  of  the  crest,  where  the  rebels  had  carried  him, 
and  stripped  him-  of  his  clothes,  boots,  watch,  and  money,  leav 
ing  him  thus  wounded,  and  almost  naked,  in  the  cold  rain. 

Captain  Greene,  Assistant- Adjutant-General  of  3d  Brigade, 
General  Geary's  Division,  while  sitting  on  his  horse,  as  the  brig 
ade  was  double-quicking,  under  a  heavy  fire,  to  the  relief  of  Os- 
terhaus'  right,  was  struck  by  a  shell,  which  completely  severed 
his  leg,  and  passed  through  his  horse,  threw  the  Captain 
into  the  air  in  one  direction,  and  the  fragment  of  his  leg  in  an 
other.  When  he  fell  to  the  ground,  although  extremely  weak, 
he  coolly  took  out  his  handkerchief,  made  it  into  a  tourniquet, 
and  calling  a  man  to  his  assistance,  applied  it  to  the  shattered  limb. 
Colonel  Ireland,  commanding  the  Brigade,  was  by  him  at  the 
time,  and  stopped  a  moment  to  offer  aid.  Politely  the  young 
Captain  said  :  "  Colonel,  go  on.  I  beg  you  will  do  me  the  favor 
to  go  on  ;  the  men  will  need  you.  I  will  get  along."  He  was 
taken  to  the  hospital,  and  another  amputation  performed.  His 
father,  Brig.-General  George  S.  Greene,  has  commanded  that  Iron 
Brigade  through  many  a  hard-fought  battle  in  Virginia,  Mary 
land,  and  Pennsylvania,  and  fell  severely  wounded  in  the  face 
and  mouth,  at  the  battle  of  Wauhatchie,  the  29th  of  October. 

When  Generals  Hooker  and  Geary  heard,  amidst  the  roar  of 
musketry,  that  Creighton  and  Crane  had  fallen,  those  veterans 
of  iron  frame  and  unyielding  spirit  burst  into  tears.  "  I  cannot 
spare  those  men — what  shall  I  do  without  them  ?"  was  their  gene 
ral  exclamation. 

It  is  of  course  obvious,  from  what  has  been  already  said, 

that  these  battles  were  of  greater  advantage  to  us,  and  more 

completely  surprised  the  rebels  and   frustrated    their  plans, 

than  any  others  that  we  have  fought.     The  fact  that  they  were 

29 


338  THE   IMPORTANT   VICTORIES. 

fought  in  Georgia,  gives  them  a  peculiar  significance.  Let  me 
explain. 

On  the  28th  of  November,  1732,  James  Oglethrope  em 
barked  from  England,  with  one  hundred  and  twenty  emi 
grants,  empowered  by  a  charter  from  George  II.  to  found  a 
new  Colony  in  America.  In  honor  of  his  king,  he  called  it 
Georgia.  His  intention  was  to  make  it  an  asylum  for  the 
impoverished  and  distressed,  and  to  secure  this  end,  the 
Colony  was  placed,  for  twenty-one  years,  under  the  guardian 
ship  of  a  corporation,  "in  trust  for  the  poor."  Although 
Great  Britain  was  at  that  time  monopolizing  the  slave  trade, 
and  forcing  slavery  upon  America,  Oglethrope  declared  that 
he  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  human  bondage.  "  Sla 
very,"  he  said,  "  is  against  the  Gospel,  as  well  as  the  funda 
mental  law  of  England.  We  refused,  as  trustees,  to  make  a 
law  permitting  such  a  horrid  crime."  The  praise  of  Georgia 
uttered  in  London,  in  1734,  was,  "  Slavery,  the  misfortune, 
if  not  the  dishonor,  of  other  plantations,  is  absolutely  pro 
scribed.  No  settlement  was  ever  before  established  on  so 
humane  a  plan." 

Among  those  who  came  with  Oglethrope,  were  the  two 
Wesleys, — Charles,  as  his  secretary,  and  John,  anxious  only 
to  preach  the  Gospel, — and,  standing  by  the  side  of  the 
Founder,  to  say,  what  have  now  become  household  words, — 
"  American  slavery  is  the  sum  of  all  villanies." 

As  early  as  1738,  some  of  the  early  settlers  clamored 
for  negro-  slavery;  but  Oglethorpe  sternly  rejected  their 
request,  declaring  that  if  it  were  introduced  into  Georgia, 
"he  would  have  no  further  concern  with  the  Colony." 
Ambition  for  colonial  growth,*  however,  and  the  lust  of 
power  and  of  pride,  overrode  the  counsels  of  him  whose  name 
became  known  as  another  expression  for  "  vast  benevolence  of 
soul,"  and  in  his  last  days,  though  he  was  unyielding,  the 

*  Bancroft's  History  of  the  United  States,  vol.  iii.  pp.  418- 
447. 


THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES.  339 

trustees  compromised,  and  slavery  was  established  in  Geor 
gia.  How  significant  the  fact,  that  the  strong  blow  under 
which  American  slavery  certainly  totters  to  its  death,  should 
be  struck  on  soil  which,  one  hundred  and  thirty-one  years  be 
fore,  was  set  apart  as  the  home  of  the  poor,  the  destitute,  and 
the  oppressed  !  Surely,  "  The  mill  of  God  grinds  slowly,  but 
it  grinds  exceedingly  small !" 

Missionary  Ridge  has  a  history  that  is  very  significant. 
This  land  originally  belonged  to  the  Cherokees,  to  whom,  in 
1799,  Rev.  Abraham  Steiner  was  sent,  by  the  Society  of 
United  Brethren,  Moravians,  to  ask  permission  to  establish  a 
school  for  the  benefit  of  the  native  children.  He  pressed  the 
subject  with  great  zeal  in  the  National  Council,  backed  by  the 
officers  of  our  Government,  but  was  utterly  refused.  In  1800, 
he  went  out  again,  renewed  his  application,  and  was  again 
refused ;  but,  before  the  close  of  the  council,  two  influential 
Chiefs  agreed  to  patronize  the  school  independent  of  the 
National  Council,  and  offered  a  place  near  the  residence  of 
one  of  them,  on  land  which  he  had  cleared.  The  other  chiefs 
did  not,  after  this,  press  their  opposition.  The  Chief  who 
owned  the  Ridge  built  the  first  wagon  made  among  the  Cher 
okees,  for  which  he  was  severely  censured  by  the  Council, 
and  forbidden  the  use  of  such  a  vehicle.  But  he  did  not 
regard  their  mandate.  The  objection  was,  "  If  you  have  a 
wagon,  there  must  be  wagon  roads,  and  if  wagon  roads,  the 
whites  will  be  among  us."*  A  second  Abraham  has  now 
opened  a  new  school,  in  which  human  equality  and  human 
rights  shall  be  taught ;  he  has  made  a  new  road,  and  what 
shall  hinder  the  Car  of  Freedom  from  Tunning  to  and  fro 
upon  it  ? 

With   respect   to    Lookout    Mountain,    the    Philadelphia 
"  Ledger"  makes  the  following  suggestions  : — 

*  Report  of  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign 
Missions,  for  1820. 


340  THE    IMPORTANT    VICTORIES. 

What  shall  be  done  with  this  mountain,  henceforth  to  be 
world-renowned?  It  is  by  nature  a  sort  of  place  which,  for  sum 
mer  resort,  is  unequalled  throughout  the  whole  Southern  States. 
Suminertown,  on  the  top  of  it,  is  a  truly  wonderful  place.  The 
beautiful  Lake  at  the  top,  and  salubrity  and  coolness  of  the  air, 
have  long  caused  it  to  be  a  favorite  place  for  those  whose  consti 
tutions  were  run  down  by  the  almost  tropical  heat  of  Georgia 
and  South  Carolina.  All  of  the  facts  point  it  out  as  a  place  to 
be  taken  possession  of  by  the  United  States  Government  for  all 
coming  time/as  both  a  military  position,  to  be^radually  fortified 
as  carefully  and  impregnably  as  England  has  fortified  Gibraltar, 
and  also  as  a  hospital  for  the  worn  soldiers  of  the  United  States 
service. 

Here  and  at  Atlanta  the  railroads  branch  in  such  a  manner  as 
to  make  access  naturally  easy  to  every  part  of  the  Union,  while 
the  supplies  of  food,  which  are  so  abundant,  and  the  loyal  char 
acter  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  whole  of  East  Tennessee,  render 
it  desirable  that  a  strong  and  influential  depot  of  the  United 
States  should  here  be  established.  Indeed,  something  of  this 
kind  seems  not  only  a  desirable  arrangement,  but  a  military 
necessity.  And  as  the  associations  of  West  Point,  where  the 
treason  of  Benedict  Arnold  was  detected  and  defeated,  caused  it 
to  be  selected  as  the  place  for  the  education  of  our  military 
officers,  so  will  this  mountain  ever  inspire  henceforth  terror  to 
the  foes  of  the  Union,  and  strength  and  loyalty  to  all  who  shall 
approach  its  invigorating  atmosphere. 


THE    VETERANS,  341 


THE    VETERANS. 

THE  Government  having  offered  a  generous  bounty  of  four 
hundred  dollars,  and  the  privilege  of  thirty  days'  furlough  to 
all  troops  re-enlisting,  who  had  been  in  the  service  two  years 
or  more,  and  the  60th,  being  much  cheered  by  the  prospect 
opened  by  the  late  battles,  began  immediately  after  the  vic 
tory  at  Ringgold,  to  agitate  the  necessity  and  duty  of  their 
joining  the  response, 

We  are  springing  to  the  call  for  three  hundred  thousand  more, 

Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  freedom  ; 
And  we'll  fill  the  vacant  ranks  of  our  brothers  gone  before, 

Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  freedom. 
The  Union  for  ever !  hurrah,  boys,  hurrah ! 
Down  with  the  traitor,  up  with  the  star ; 
While  we  rally  round  the  flag,  boys,  rally  once  again, 
Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  freedom  \ 

On  the  14th  of  December,  Lieutenant  Cornish  was  appointed 
Recruiting  Officer,  and,  after  three-fourths  of  those  in  the  De 
partment  had  re-enlisted,  Colonel  Godard  went  to*  General 
Thomas  to  know  what  could  be  done,  as  the  number  re-enlist 
ing  did  not  comprise  three-fourths  of  the  aggregate  strength 
of  the  regiment.  General  Thomas  telegraphed  the  War  De 
partment  for  permission  to  send  the  60th  home,  stating  the 
necessity  and  justice  of  the  request.  General  Hooker  warmly 
seconded  the  effort,  and  the  Secretary  of  War  telegraphed 
consent. 

29* 


342  THE    VETERANS. 

On  the  24th  the  regiment  was  mustered  out,  and  re-mus 
tered  as  the  SIXTIETH  REGIMENT  NEW  YORK  STATE  VETERAN 
VOLUNTEERS.  They  also  received  the  following  order : 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND, 
CHATTANOOGA,  TENN.,  Dec.  24,  1863. 

SPECIAL  FIELD  ORDERS,  ) 
No.  345.  j 

(Extract.) 
»***'**« 

VIII.  The  60th  New  York  Infantry  having  been  duly  mus 
tered  as  a  Veteran  Regiment,  will  proceed  to  Ogdensburgh,  New 
York,  under  command  of  Colonel  Abel  Godard,  who,  upon  his 
arrival  at  that  place,  will  report,  through  the  Governor  of  New 
York,  to  the  Superintendent  of  Recruiting  Service  for  that  State, 
for  the  furlough  of  thirty  days  granted  veteran  volunteers,  and 
for  the  re-organization  and  recruiting  of  the  regiment. 

All  men  of  the  regiment  who  are  not  eligible  to  re-enlist  as 
veteran  volunteers,  on  account  of  having  more  than  one  year  to 
serve,  will  be  permitted  to  accompany  the  regiment  upon  giving 
a  promise,  in  writing,  that  they  will  so  re-enlist,  when  they  be 
come  eligible. 

All  other  individuals,  who  fail  to  re-enlist  as  veterans  will  be 
permanently  transferred  to  some  other  regiment  under  the 
superintendence  of  Major-General  Slocum,  commanding  12th 
Corps,  and  will  not  be  permitted  to  accompany  the  regiment  on 
furlough. 

At  the  expiration  of  the  furlough,  the  regiment  will  report,  in 
a  body,  for  duty  with  its  Brigade. 

The  Quartermaster's  Department  will  furnish  transportation 
for  the  regiment  going  and  coming. 
By  command  of 

Major-General  GEO.  H.  TIiOMAS. 

WM.  McMICHAEL, 

Major  and  A.  A.  Gen'l. 

"  M.  S.,"  of  the  149th  New  York,  paid  the  following  well- 
deserved  compliment  to  the  60th,  in  a  communication  to  the 
"Onondaga  Standard :" 


THE    VETERANS.  343 

The  re-enlistment  mania  is  also  up  to  fever  heat  in  this  section, 
and  nearly  all  the  two-year  regiments  are  making  arrangements 
to  comply  with  the  order.  In  our  3d  Brigade  the  only  regiment 
that  has  yet  complied  with  the  order  is  the  60th  New  York  Vol 
unteers,  from  St.  Lawrence  County,  and  they  are  expecting 
orders  to  start  for  home  to-morrow.  This  regiment  is  commanded 
by  Colonel  Godard,  one  of  the  bravest  and  best  o'fficers  in  the 
service,  and  is  composed  of  as  noble  a  set  of  young  men  as  can 
be  found  in  or  out  of  the  army.  They  have  seen  hard  service  for 
over  two  years,  and  been  our  companions-in-arms  for  about  one 
year.  A  deep  and  lasting  feeling  of  affection  has  sprung  up  be 
tween  the  two  regiments,  and  men  who  have  so  frequently 
confronted  danger  and  death  together,  naturally  regard  each 
other  with  the  warmest  feelings  of  brotherhood.  The  gallant 
men  of  the  60th  are  noble  representatives  of  the  home  of  Silas 
Wright  and  Preston  King,  and  reflect  honor  on  the  State  from 
which  they  hail.  We  hope  to  see  them  return  with  ranks  well 
filled  and  strength  renewed  to  battle  bravely  for  the  Union. 

In  connection  with  the  departure  of  the  60th  Regiment,  I 
might  mention  an  incident  of  the  battle  of  Ringgold,  which 
illustrates  the  close  relations  and  friendly  feeling  existing  be 
tween  the  149th  and  the  gallant  northern  New  Yorkers.  Dur 
ing  the  hottest  of  the  battle,  our  men  sheltered  themselves  in  a 
barn,  and  while  occupying  their  position,  one  of  our  Captains 
was  accosted  by  two  privates  of  the  60th,  who  had  somehow  be 
come  separated  from  their  command,  and  asked  permission  to 
join  our  regiment  and  fight  in  the  ranks.  Of  course  permission 
was  freely  granted,  and  a  place  of  shelter  was  pointed  out  to  the 
two  volunteers.  They  took  the  position  assigned  them,  at  an 
opening  in  the  barn,  and  standing  face  to  face  with  each  other, 
one  firing  with  his  right  hand  and  the  other  with  his  left,  they 
fought  during  the  whole  engagement,  and  doubtless  many  a  rebel 
felt  the  effects  of  this  right  and  left-handed  bombardment. 

The  next  day,  Christmas,  the  regiment  started  for  home 
nothing  worthy  of  note  marking  their  journey  to  Louisville, 
where  they  stopped  four  days,  and  were  provided  with  green 
backs   by  Paymaster    Major   Stone.     Arriving  at  the  north 


344  THE   VETERANS. 

bank  of  the  Ohio,  they  marched  to  the  Jeffersonville  Railroad 
Station,  where  with  the  mercury  several  degrees  below  zero, 
they  took  transportation,  in  some  well-ventilated  cattle-cars, 
for  Indianapolis,  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  ei.u-ht  miles, 
which  they  coolly  and  wearily  passed  over  in  twenty-two  hours ! 

Leaving  Indianapolis  on  Sunday  morning,  January  4th, 
they  arrived  at  Cleveland  the  next  morning,  and,  on  the  even 
ing  of  the  same  day,  took  cars  on  the  New  York  Central  Road 
for  Buffalo.  At  Oneida,  the  train  stopped,  as  usual,  and 
the  boys  went  into  a  saloon  to  obtain  some  refreshments.  The 
proprietor,  thinking  to  make  a  good  haul  from  their  well- 
stored  pockets,  had  the  foolishness  to  rate  his  apple-pies  at 
fifty  cents  each.  The  boys  "  couldn't  see  it,"  and  calling  him 
"  a  d — d  copperhead,"  at  once  relieved  the  shop  of  its  con 
tents,  just  in  time  to  secure  their  seats  in  the  train,  already  in 
motion. 

Only  one  more  change  of  cars  awaited  these  noble  men, 
and  that  would  bring  {hem  to  the  spot  which  had  often  ap 
peared  to  them  in  their  dreams  on  far-away  fields.  This 
change  was  made  at  Rome,  where  the  Rome,  Watertown  and 
Ogdensburgh  Railroad  was  to  be  the  means  of  landing  them 
at  home.  As  they  neared  St.  Lawrence  County,  their  hearts 
fluttering  with  delight,  suddenly,  when  about  a  mile  west  of 
Antwerp,  there  came  a  thump,  a  crash,  a  pitch  forward  and  a 
lurch  sideways,  and  the  first  four  cars  were  thrown  down  the 
embankment.  GeneraFdestruction  was  expected,  but  no  lives 
were  lost,  and  but  a  few  injured.  The  Quartermaster  and 
several  of  the  men  of  his  department,  were  asleep  in  a  for 
ward  car,  lying  on  the  baggage,  the  Field  and  Staff  horses 
being  at  the  forward  end  of  the  same.  Down  went  baggage 
and  men  on  top  of  the  horses,  but  no  one  was- hurt  there,  the 
horses  bearing  the  brunt  of  the  shock,  and  coming  out  of  it  a 
little  bruised.  Remaining  at  Antwerp  through  the  night  and 
a  part  of  the  next  day,  the  regiment  arrived,  on  the  evening 
of  Wednesday,  the  6th,  at  Ogdensburgh,  where  they  found 


THE    VETERANS.  345 

large  crowds  assembled  at  the  Station,  to  give  them  a  hearty 
welcome,  and  escort  them  to  the  Town  Hall,  which  was 
warmed  and  thrown  open  for  their  accommodation;  after 
which  a  repast  composed  of  everything  hungry  soldiers  could 
desire,  was  served  up  at  the  Morton  House. 

The  next  morning,  after  breakfast,  the  regiment  marched 
to  Eagle  Hall,  where  a  formal  reception  was  given  them  by 
the  citizens.  After  prayer  by  Rev.  L.  L.  Miller,  Hon.  C.  Gr.  * 
Myers  welcomed  the  brave  men,  in  a  beautiful  and  eloquent 
address,  which  was  received  with  great  applause.  Colonel 
Godard  responded  in  a  speech  full  of  feeling  and  patriotism. 
Quartermaster  Merritt  then  made  a  presentation  to  Hon.  Pres 
ton  King,  of  a  cane  cut  on  Lookout  Mountain,  overlooking  the 
place  where  the  fight  was  severest.  I  regret  that  I  am  not 
able  to  give  the  speech  and  the  response;  also  that  it  is  out  of 
my  power  to  do  other  than  follow  the  newspaper  report  of  the 
reception.  I  had  hoped  to  have  obtained  a  synopsis  of  all  the 
speeches,  but  as  they  were  all  impromptu,  the  speakers  do  not 
sufficiently  trust  their  memory  of  what  they  said,  to  justify 
the  attempt  to  write  out  their  remarks. 

The  compliment  to  Mr.  King  was  eminently  just.  He  has 
ever  been  a  deeply  interested  friend  to  the  regiment,  and  has 
in  many  an  emergency  done  it  good  service.  Nor  have  his 
services  and  good  wishes  been  confined  to  the  60th.  As  a 
Senator  he  was  always  laboring  for  the  efficiency  of  the  mili 
tary  service,  and  the  well-being  of  all  who  were  engaged  in  it. 
Adjutant  Wilson,  having  been  shown  a  collection  of  war- 
relics  in  possession  of  Colonel  It.  W.  Judson,  made  that  gen 
tleman  a  present  of  a  cane,  the  fellow  to  that  which  Mr.  King 
had  just  received.  Both  gentlemen  responded  in  feeling  and 
patriotic  remarks;  at  the  conclusion  of  which,  the  regiment 
went  down  to  the  street  and  performed  several  military  evolu 
tions.  Shortly  after,  they  received  their  furloughs,  and  de 
parted  for  their  several  homes. 

After  the  regiment  went  home  it  was -my  privilege  to  pay  a 


816  THE   VETERANS. 

visit  to  St.  Lawrence  County,  where  I  had  the  happiness  of 
meeting  again  many  of  the  officers  and  men.  To  me  it  was 
a  great  privilege,  for  the  memory  of  the  days  whose  chief 
incidents  I  have  endeavored  to  sketch  in  the  preceding  pages, 
draws  them  to  my  heart  with  a  strong  and  peculiar  affection. 

I  went  on  an  errand  of  consolation. t  Captain  Fitch  had 
been  the  superintendent  of  my  Sunday-school  during  the 
last  two  years  of  my  residence  in  Canton.  His  family  were 
attendants  on  my  ministry.  It  was  not  unnatural  that  they 
should  request  me  to  come  and  preach  to  them  a  sermon 
appropriate  to  the  death  of  James,  nor  was  it  unnatural  that  I 
should  feel  a  melancholy  satisfaction  in  complying. 

Rev.  Mr.Waugh  kindly  tendered  the  use  of  the  Presbyte 
rian  Church,  a  building"much  more  commodious  than  the  Uni- 
versalist  house  which  stood  opposite,  and  ^took  part  in  the  ser 
vices,  reading  the  ever  appropriate  and  beautiful  Twenty-third 
Psalm.  Rev.  Dr.  Fisher  made  a  prayer  in  which  he  bore  the 
supplications  and  thanksgivings  of  the  entire  concourse  to  the 
Divine  Throne,  and  I  gave  in  substance  the  following  sermon, 
omitting  here  only  that  portion  which  attempted  a  historical 
sketch  of  the  regiment. 

I  publish  the  Discourse  here,  not  because  I  have  a  desire  to 
blazon  my  own  efforts  on  these  pages,  but  for  better  and  more 
important  reasons.  First,  because  of  a  very  generally  expressed 
wish  that  it  should  be  preserved  in  this  way ;  and  second,  from 
an  earnest  desire  on  my  own  part  that  all  who  may  read  this 
book,  whose  loved  ones  have  died  in  the  Army  of  the  Union, 
whether  from  iiisease,  or  in  the  strife  of  battle,  may  consider 
and  apply  to  themselves,  its  general  truths  and  comforts. 

SERMON. 

"  Have  faith  in  God."— Mark  xi.  22. 

Something  more  than  two  years  ago,  I  stood  within  the  church 
opposite,  where  I  had  endeavored,  according  to  the  best  of  my 
judgment  and  ability  for  five  years,  then  ending,  to  preach  the 
gospel,  and  announcing  my  intention  to  enter  with  others  who 


THE   VETERANS.  347 

• 

had  there  worshipped  with  me,  a  new  and  wholly  untried  field 
of  labor  and  duty,  addressed  a  few  words  of  farewell  to  those 
who  were  to  remain,  exhorting  them,  in  the  language  of  Jude, 
"to  build  themselves  up  in  their  most  holy  faith;7'  and  now  coming 
here  to  meet  some  of  those  who  entered  on  that  new  duty  with 
me,  and  to  tender  Christian  consolation  to  those  who  remained, 
I' feel  that  I  can  bring  nothing  before  you  that  shall  be  so  appro 
priate,  as  a  fresh  consideration  of  this  our  great  duty  and  privi 
lege,  faith  in  God. 

I  am  to  speak  to  you  of  the  death  of  one  tenderly  loved  in  his 
home,  to  whom  his  companions  in  arms  were  warmly  attached,  and 
who,  whether  much  or  little  known  by  the  community  generally, 
now,  by  his  death,  and  the  manner  of  it,  is  embalmed  in  your 
memories  forever,  as  a  hero  soldier  to  whom  death  had  no  terrors, 
who  smiled  as  others  wept  when  they  thought  of  his  fate,  who 
cheered  for  the  victory  bought  by  his  own  ebbing  blood,  and  com- 
fof  ted  those  who  were  unreconciled  to  his  departure.  What  he 
urged  upon  the  consideration  of  those,  some  of  whom  are  now 
here,  I  urge  on  this  family  of  which  he  was  a  most  gentle  and 
faithful  member,  and  on  this  concourse  who,  in  their  sympathy 
for  them,  honor  him — have  faith  in  God. 

Not  alone,  my  friends,  the  circumstances  peculiar  to  this  hour, 
but  those  which  have  for  several  years  past  marked  the  condition 
of  our  country,  and  those  attendant  upon  it  now,  enforce  upon  us 
this  religious,  this  peculiarly  Christian  privilege. 

Engaged  for  the  past  three  years  in  attempting  to  suppress  a 
rebellion  whose  power  and  magnitude  we  did  not  for  a  long  time 
estimate,  and  even  the  animus  of  which  many  were  slow  to  dis 
cover,  how  often  we  have  been  dispirited,  despondent,  discouraged, 
almost  faithless ;  and  yet,  looking  back  upon  it  from  our  present 
standpoint,  how  poor  and  mean  seem  the  doubts  which  then  dis 
turbed  us,  the  gloom  and  complaint  into  which  we  then  fell. 

So  the  war,  while  it  has  depressed,  has  also  enlightened,  com 
forted,  and  quickened  our  faith. 

Men  came  forward  in  the  time  of  peril,  and  in  the  dark  and 
stormy  hour ;  idolatry  of  a  fancied  pet  and  favorite  leader  was 
destroyed  by  glorious  victories  under  other  commanders,  and  a 
clearer  apprehension  of  what  had  caused  the  rebellion  and  of 
what  must  be  utterly  removed  before  the  strife  could  end,  took 


348  THE    V.ETERANS 

• 
possession  of  our  hearts,  animated  our  purposes,  and  has  now 

enabled- us  to  see  more  clearly  the  sure  coming  end — sure  as  God 
is  true,  and  is  for  the  right ! 

In  the  victories  which  have  led  us  to  this  hopefulness,  and  have 
inspired  us  with  this  confidence  that  the  hand  of  God  and  the 
goodness  of  his  infinite  wisdom  is  plainly  to  be  discovered  in  the 
issue  sure  to  be  consummated  when  the  strife  shall  close,  James 
C.  Fitch,  and  his  companions,  both  the  living  and  the  dead,  bore 
a  prominent  and  a  glorious  part. 

Of  course  I  could  not,  nor  would  it  be  necessary,  if  possible, 
give  you  here  a  history  of  this  band  of  men ;  but  I  may,  not 
unprofitably,  I  trust  not  inappropriately,  allude  to  some  of  the 
incidents  showing  the  vicissitudes  through  which  they  have 
passed.  You  doubtless  remember  their  healthy  and  manly  ap 
pearance  as  in  November  of  1861,  they  left  for  the  seat  of  war. 
Their  splendid  bearing,  both  physical  and  intellectual,  was 
remarked  by  the  crowds  who  flocked  at  every  railroad  statiorf  to 
greet  and  cheer  them  as  they  passed  through  the  State.  They 
were  hopeful,  confident,  and  full  of  spirit.  In  nine  days  there 
after,  I  joined  them,  and  what  a  change !  * 
#  #  #  *  *  •*  •* 

In  all  these  scenes  of  sickness,  James  Fitch  was  either  a  suf 
ferer,  as  in  the  winter  of  '61,  '62,  or  a  true  brother,  a  faithful 
nurae,  in  the  terrible  summer  of  '62.  In  all  these  battles,  and 
in  others  of  lesser  note,  James  was  a  faithful  soldier.  In  camp, 
a  loved  companion :  gentle  in  spirit,  pure  in  morals,  steadfast  in 
integrity.  How  he  died,  you  all  know.  Not  unlike  one  other, 
known  to  most  of  you,  a  young  minister  of  the  gospel,  Rev. 
William  L.  Gilman,  who,  I  know,  is  now  beloved  by  you  all. 
You  remember  him,  while  he  was  a  student  in  the  Theological 
School  here,  as  a  young  man  of  pure  life,  active  in  doing  good, 
and  of  humble  and  modest  deportment.  While  lying  on  the 
ground  with  his  regiment,  the  32d  Mass.  Vols.,  at  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg,  he  was  severely  wounded,  the  ball  passing  through 
his  leg,  and  would  have  entered  his  abdomen,  had  it  not  been 
arrested  in  its  progress  by  a  copy  of  the  New  Testament  in  his 
blouse' pocket.  The  last  dent  made  by  the  ball  in  its  progress 
through  the  book,  being  at  that  memorable  verse,  "This  is  a 


THE   VETERANS.  349 

faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of  all  acceptation,  that  Christ  Jesus 
came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners ;  of  whom  I  am  chief." 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Hall,  a  Baptist  clergyman,  of  Philadelphia, 
went  to  Gettysburg  for  the  purpose  of  looking  after  a  wounded 
son,  and  ^as  induced  to  visit  Mr.  Oilman  by  the  representations 
of  a  clergyman,  whose  sympathies  were  strongly  with  the  rebels, 
that  the  morals  of  the  wounded  were  likely  to  be  injured  by  the 
influence  of  a  Universalist  preacher  over  in  the  barn,  who  was 
remarkably  light-hearted,  and  was  constantly  preaching  his 
stuff. 

"I  found  him,"  said  Mr.  Hall,  to  me,  "very  cheerful,  and 
doing  all  in  his  power  to  make  all  around  him  resigned.  My 
heart  went  out  to  him  at  once, 'and  I  loved  him  for  the  good  he 
was  doing.  There  were  more  than  a  hundred  wounded  men  in 
the  barn,  and  he  had  some  patient,  hopeful,  cheerful  word  for 
every  one  who  moaned  in  pain  or  grief.  After  conversing  with 
him  awhile,  I.  went  to  another  portion  of  the  barn,  and  inquired 
of  some  who  were  badly  wounded  there,  how  they  were  getting 
along.  They  answered  that  they  were  doing  well,  but  that  they 
should  be  very  much  depressed  and  home-sick,  if  it  were  not  for 
somebody  over  the  other  end  of  the  room,  they  did  not  know  who 
he  was,  but  he  said  he  had  lost  a  leg,  who  was,  by  his  cheerful 
and  Christian  talk,  putting  a  strong  and  happy  heart  into  every 
one  of  them." 

Not  many  days  after,  secondary  hemorrhage  having  set  in, 
this  noble  young  man  died.  "If  it  be  God's  will,"  said  he,  "  I 
would  like  to  recover ;  but,  if  death  ensue,  I  do  not  regret  the 
sacrifice  I  make  to  crush  out  this  rebellion."  Closing  his  eyes, 
he  said,  as  he  fell  asleep,  "I  don't  regret  leaving  this  world  for 
a  new  and  wider  field  of  labor.  Faith  in  God  is  strong,  No 
fears.  All  is  bright !" 

Not  unlike  his  death,  I  say,  was  the  departure  of  Sergeant 
Fitch,  uttering  words  of  cheer,  comfort,  faith,  to  his  brother  and 
his  companions. 

Under  these  circumstances,  it  may  be  esteemed  an  honor  (sore, 
unutterable  grief  though  it  be)  to  these  parents  who  have  been 
called  to  give  up  their  noble  and  gentle  son,  the  object  of  their 
love  and  hope,  to  God  and  their  country,  to  the  whole  race  whom 
Christ  came  to  save  ! 
30 


850  THE   VETERANS. 

Killed  in  battle  for  the  Union !  No  prouder  epitaph  need  any 
man  covet.  Who,  of  all  who  have  occupied  these  houses,  and 
tilled  these  fields,  building,  planting,  reaping,  and  returning  to 
the  dust  whence  they  were  taken,  who  of  them  all  has  earned  a 
nobler  memorial?  Who,  of  all  who  dwell  here,  will  merit  a 
more  affectionate,  honored  remembrance,  than  the  young  volun 
teer  who,  from  this  community,  went  forth  to  fight,  and,  as  the 
event  proved,  to  die  for  his  country  ? 

Died  in  the  Army  of  the  West,  though  belonging  to  the  oft- 
dispirited,  sorely  tried,  and  unfortunate  Army  of  the  East !  Do 
you  know  what  that  means  ?  It  means,  Died  to  break  down  and 
forever  destroy  the  jealousies  which  were  growing  up  between 
two  sections  of  the  same  noble  Army  of  the  Union.  Jealousies 
which  you,  who  have  not  been  in  the  field,  know  nothing  of, 
which  were  growing  strong,  and  producing  most  disastrous  re 
sults,  but  which  Wauhatchie,  Lookout,  Missionary  Ridge,  and 
Ringgold  have  done  away  with  forever.  No  more  taunts  on  the 
noble  Army  of  the  Potomac  ;  no  more  sneers.  They  have  led 
the  front  in  every  strife  since  they  went  to  the  West ;  they  have 
especially  distinguished  themselves  under  the  White  Star,  till 
now,  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  is  the  synonym  of  the  noblest 
soldiery ! 

It  means  also,  Died  to  chasten  the  insolence  which  had  grown 
inordinate  through  a  series  of  successes.  It  means,  Died  to 
restore  confidence,  courage,  and  hope  to  a  country  saddened  and 
despondent  through  long-continued  disaster.  It  means,  Died  to 
turn  back  the  oft  threatening  torrent  of  invasion  and  pillage.  It 
meatis,  Died  to  still  the  panic  fear  which,  especially  in  the  great 
cities  of  our  land,  filled  all  hearts.  It  means,  Died  that  mothers 
might  put  their  children  in  security  to  their  night's  rest.  It 
means,  Died  that  the  noble  hearts  of  East  Tennessee  might  feel 
that  their  State  is  placed  beyond  reach  of  a  cruel  foe  ;  and  that 
you  and  I  might  be  assured  that  insurrection  and  riot,  theft  and 
robbery,  conflagration  and  red-handed  murder  might  not  range 
at  will — not  in  New  York  and  Boston  alone,  but  in  every  city, 
every  town,  every  village  in  the  land,  where  men,  worse  than  the 
tories  who  "  tried  the  souls  of  our  fathers/'  now  seek  to  thwart 
the  noble  purposes  of  the  Government.  For  what  was  experienced 
in  New  York  city  is  but  a  small  sample  of  what  must,  in  all  prob- 


THE   VETERANS.  351 

ability,  have  been  experienced  throughout  the  North,  had  the 
men  who  died  for  the  Union  faltered  at  that  battle  at  whose  close 
cur  dying  volunteer  cheered  for  the  victory  that  was  purchased 
with  his  own  blood. 

What  a  rebuke  to  that  infernal  spirit  of  sympathy  with  rebel 
lion,  which  even  here,  in  this  far  North,  this  home  of  the  heroes 
of  so  many  fields,  this  spot  where,  of  all  others,  the  inspirations 
of  a  noble  democracy,  as  exemplified  in  the  career  of  him  who 
rests  beneath  yonder  Marble  Shaft,  should  vitalize  all  the  patriotic 
sentiments  of  every  man  and  child,  has  yet,  as  I  feel,  and  as  you 
gurely  know,  wanted  only  the  occasion  for  outbreak  from  such 
men  as  they,  who,  when  the  remains  of  the  honored  dead  of  An- 
tietam — a  man  known  in  all  these  homes  as  one  of  upright  life 
and  of  integrity  of  purpose — were  brought  and  laid  before  this 
altar,  that  here  words  of  Christian  comfort  might  be  spoken  to 
those  who  wept  fdt  him,  and  the  last  service  the  living  can  ren 
der  to  the  dead  might  be  tenderly  and  lovingly  performed,  stood 
aloof  from  it  all,  refusing  to  do  honor  to  the  patriot  who  had  died 
for  their  highest  earthly  good  ! 

Shame,  shame  to  such  monsters  in  human  form  !  But,  thanks 
to  Almighty  God,  that  the  offering  up  of  the  pure  life  at  Ring- 
gold  has  made  it  certain  that  the  memory  of  all  who  love  not 
their  country  shall  rot ! 

Died  at  llinggold  !  It  means,  Died  that 'the  best  Government 
on  which  the  sun  ever  shone  might  not  be  bound  and  powerless, 
calling  in  vain  for  the  succor  which  would  not  come ;  but  that, 
through  the  victory  purchased  by  that  death,  these  noble  men 
who  survive  so  many  perils,  might  return  to  their  homes,  and, 
filling  up  their  broken  ranks,  go  back  to  complete  the  work 
which,  we  trust  in  God,  is  now  well  nigh  accomplished — the  res 
toration  of  our  noble  Union!  It  means,  in  the  noblest  and 
highest  sense,  Died  for  the  land's  salvation ;  Died  for  the  opening 
of  the  prison-doors  to  them  that  are  unjustly  bound  ;  Died  to  pro 
claim, the  acceptable  year  of  the  Lord,  and  the  day  -of  vengeance 
of  our  God,  to  the  oppressed  nations  of  the  earth  ;  Died  that  men 
might  still  hope  and  struggle  upward  to  life  and  liberty,  civil 
and  religious ;  Died  that  a  field  for  Christian  enterprise  might 
be  opened  in  our  own  land,  more  wide-spread  and  more  impor 
tant  than  any  of  which  we  have  yet  taken  possession  ;  Died  that 


352  THE    VETERANS. 

.Christiana  might  not,  broken-hearted,  retire  from  the  effort  for 
the  world's  conversion;  Died  that  God's  kingdom  might  come, 
that  His  will  might  be  done,  on  earth  as  it  is  in  Heaven ! 

Speaking  to  you  from  the  depths  of  my  heart,  and  the  sincerest 
convictions  of  my  judgment,  I  feel  and  know  that  I  have  not  in 
this  estimate  of  the  significance  of  a  death  in  the  victorious  army 
of  the  Union,  overstated  its  importance,  its  greatness  and  its 
glory.  You,  my  old  companions-in-arms,  inexpressibly  dear  to 
me  by  reason  of  so  many  sad  and  joyous  memories ;  you,  who 
were  present  in  that  conflict  at  Ringgold,  wrho  have  told  me 
that,  at  its  close,  emotions  of  thankfulness  were  so  intense  that 
words  could  give  them  no  expression,  but  clasping  each  other's 
hands,  and  looking  through  streaming  eyes  into  each  other's 
faces,  you  stood  in  silence,  know  something  which  others  can 
not  feel,  of  the  importance  and  of  the  consequences  of  that 
battle.  And  when  the  General,  whose  fron  will  is  pro 
verbial,  whose  unflinching  sternness  you  have  so  often  tested, 
stood  before  you  to  speak  his  thanks,  his  words,  broken  by 
soul-stirring  sobs,  and  interrupted  by  the  tears  which  fell  like 
rain,  you  knew  that  a  victory,  unsurpassed  in  importance,  had 
been  won. 

.  Ah !  believe  me,  my  hearers,  it  was  not  from  unconsciousness 
that  death  was  near,  it  was  not  a  sign  of  the  weakness  which 
death  creates,  it  was  not  the  effect  of  any  illusion,  but  a  full 
sense  of  the  worth  and  importance  of  that  which  his  fast-flowing 
blood  had  helped  to  purchase,  which  moved  Sergeant  Fitch  to 
raise  his  almost  nerveless  arm  and  join  the  cheer  which  welcomed 
the  General's  congratulations ! 

Mourn  not,  my  friends,  for  the  departure  of  such  a  son,  brother, 
companion,  friend. 

If  the  death  of  such  an  one  is  a  high  price  to  pay  for  victory, 
consider  the  higher  estimate  to  be  placed  on  the  Government 
whose  stability,  and  the  country  whose  privilege  of  existence, 
depended  on  and  was  secured  by  that  victory.  Think  how  much 
it  has  done  to  increase  our  faith  in  God,  that  He  cares  for  our 
affairs,  and  will,  for  us,  as  a  nation,  "do  all  things  well." 

And  then  consider  this,  that  the  Gospel  comes  with  special  ap 
propriateness  to  every  sad  and  troubled  heart.  He  who  brought 
it  to  earth  declares  that  He  is  "  sent  to  heal  the  broken-hearted  ;" 


THE    VETERANS.  353 

He  pronounces  them  "blessed"  who  mourn  ;  He  assures  the  sor 
rowing,  "  I  will  not  leave  you  comfortless."  When,  therefore, Christ 
calls  on  you  to  have  faith  in  God,  a  confidence  which  you  are  so 
conscious  of  needing  for  your  stay  and  support,  consider  how  his 
teachings  encourage  it,  and  what  a  blessed  recompense  follows. 

He  teaches  you  that  God  is  Love ;  infinite,  perfect,  everlasting 
Love.     If  you  receive  and  understand  this,  what  blessed  results 
j follow.    All  your  affection  was  bestowed  by  Him;  your  love  can 
never  exceed  His. 

He  assures  you  that  God  is  your  Father.  How  comforting, 
then,  the  assurance  that  His  love  is  no  undesigned,  forced,  acci 
dental  expression  of  Himself,  but  the  only  natural  display.  You 
can  therefore  trust  Him  to  do  all  that  a  Father  can  accomplish. 
Yes,  more  than  is  possible  for  earthly  parents  to  do,  for  "  If  ye, 
being  evil,  know  how  to  give  good  gifts  unto  your  children,  how 
much  more  shall  your  Father  which  is  in  Heaven  give  good 
things  to  them  that  ask  him?"  How  frequent  and  how^arious 
are  the  illustrations  our  Saviour  gives  us  of  God's  Paternity, 
drawn  from  the  human  father  and  the  human  home.  Go  over 
the  New  Testament  and  erase  these  from  it,  and  what  a  strangely 
mutilated  book  remains ! 

He  promises  to  bring  all  the  families  of  the  earth  to  Himself. 
How  patiently,  then,  we  can  wait  for  the  end.  How  abundant 
our  comfort  in  its  anticipation. 

He  tells  us  that  He  is  the  true  image  of  God;  that  when  we 
read  of  His  deeds,  words,  and  love,  we  read  of  God's  truth,  spirit, 
and  disposition.  Dear  friends,  this  is  all  that  you  and  I  need ! 
Did  we  heartily  receive  and  believe  it,  how  our  doubt,  fear  and 
sorrow  would  pass  away. 

.  I  commend  to  you  all,  then,  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  as  the 
source  of  that  faith  which  alone  comforts.  Parents,  bind  it  closer 
to  your  hearts.  Brothers,  accept  its  precepts  and  its  doctrines. 
Sisters,  believe  its  blessed  assurance,  "  Thy  brother  shall  rise 
again."  Friends  and  neighbors,  turn  not  from,  but  cleave  to  it. 
Companions-in-arms  !  in  camp,  I  have  spoken  to  you  of  its  worth ; 
in  the  hospital,  of  its  value;  on  the  battle-field,  of  its  import 
ance  ;  and,  at  the  close  of  deadly  strife,  of  its  abundant  comforts ! 
For  all  tnat  it  is,  I  commend  it  to  you  again.  God  help  you  to 
make  it  your  staff,  and  your  exceeding  great  reward ! 
30* 


354  THE    VETERANS. 

What,  my  hearers,  it  has,  and  can  do,  for  any  one,  or  for  any 
class,  that  is  it  for  us  all,  and  for  all  our  race — the  helper  to  our 
attaining  that  on  which  all  hope  and  comfort  must  be  based- 
faith  in  God. 

As  these  pages  go  to  press,  the  furlough  of  the  regiment 
has  expired,  and  they,  are  again  in  the  field.  What  a  change 
has  taken  place  since  they  first  went  out!  Then,  thirteen 
States  were  said  to  be  under  the  secession  banner.  Eleven 
millions  of  people,  seven  millions  free,  and  four  millions  slaves, 
were  claimed  in  the  rebel  territory.  In  arms,  ammunition, 
opportunity  for  increasing  all  their  supplies,  and  unanimity 
of  feeling  in  regard  to  the  strife,  the  rebels  had  every  possible 
advantage.  The  prestige  of  their  heretofore  successful  at 
tempts  to  frighten  the  Free  States  into  concessions  and  com- 
prom^§es,  induced  them  to  add  to  their  already  extended 
resources,  many  gasconading  boasts  and  bullyings.  One  South 
ron  was  to  be  more  than  a  match  for  ten  Mudsills ;  every 
inch  of  their  territory  was  to  be  kept;  an  invading  army 
could  make  no  stay  whatever  on  their  soil;  and  soon,  the 
people  of  the  North  would,  on  seeing  the  hopelessness  of  sub 
duing  them,  compel  the  Administration  to  sue  for  peace,  and 
they  dictate  all  the  terms ! 

Now,  what  is  their  condition  ?  But  six  States  are  within 
their  military  control,  and  one  of  these,  North  Carolina,  has 
voted  for  peace,  its  presses  denouncing  the  rebel  leaders  and  t  ' 
the  rebel  cause  in  unmeasured  terms,  and  its  people  organ 
izing  to  fight  for  the  Union.  An  average  of  ten  thousand 
slaves  per  month  has  been  lost  to  them  ;  their  armies  are  filled 
with  revolters,  and  the  "Richmond  Whig,"  once  so  jubilant, 
is  now  thus  dolorous  in  summing  up  the  results : 

Nearly  half  of  our  territory  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy  !  Whole 
States  and  tiers  of  States,  including  the  imperial  valley  of  the 
Mississippi,  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy  !  Nearly  or  quite  half 
the  men  on  our  muster-rolls  not  in  the  field !  A  large  portion  of 
those  in  the  field  distrustful  of,  and  discontented  with  their  com- 


THE   VETERANS.  355 

mander !  The  Confederate  flag  eleven  times  lowered  in  the  face 
and  at  the  bidding  of  the  enemy  !  No  navy  !  A  currency  worth 
from  six  to  seven  cents  on  the  dollar  compared  with  gold !  Sup 
plies  of  provisions  for  army  and  people  exceedingly  precious ! 
Fanners  grumbling,  dissatisfied  and  unwilling  to  exert  them 
selves  for  the  largest  amount  of  production  1  Hundreds  of  thou 
sands  of  our  agricultural  laborers  escaped  to  the  enemy  !  Non- 
producers  alarmed  at  the  prospect  of  destitution!  The  poor 
pinched  and  stinted  by  the  exorbitance  of  prices ! 

In  a  still  more  recent  number  of  that  paper,  we  have  this  : 

Patriotism  is  dead,  corru^on  and  fraud  stalk  in  high  places ; 
the  finances  are  in  ruins ;  food  is  nearly  exhausted ;  extortion 
and  speculation  rule  supreme ;  not  a  particle  of  statesmanship  is 
displayed ;  Congress  has  gone  mad ;  civil  liberty  is  threatened 
at  the  hands  of  the  friends  of  the  Chief  Magistrate  ;  civil  ability 
lias  perished ;  military  talent  is  rapidly  waning;  and,  what  is 
worse  than  all,  the  people  are  begrudging  food  and  clothing  to 
their  sons  who  are  fighting,  and  have  given  themselves  up,  the 
men  to  drinking  and  the  greed  of  gain,  and  the  women  to  paint 
and  exposure  of  their  persons. 

These  are  indeed  bitter  ashes  to  rake  down  from  the  once 
fierce  fire  of  Southern  bravado.  But  nearly  all  the  rebel 
newspapers,  and  especially  those  published  at  Kichmond,  are 
filled  with  most  dismal  complaints,  and  so  pervaded  with  a 
savagely  grim  and  sarcastic  humor,  that  no  satire  of  the  rebel 
lion  could  be  more  severe  than  their  own.  The  Examiner,  for 
example,  thus  proposes  a  new  subject  for  an  historical  painting : 

The  Enquirer  man  tearing  up  the  Confederate  Constitution  for 
waste  paper.  Mr.  Memminger  picking  up  the  pieces  to  print 
50-cent  Confederate  notes  on.  Framers  of  the  Constitution  in  the 
background,  sitting  on  mourners'  bench,  wiping  their  weeping 
noses  on  illustrated  cotton  pocket  handkerchiefs.  Detailed  editor 
of  independent  paper,  dressed  in  uniform  of  artillery  private  of 
Confedefate  States,  going  out  to  be  shot  as  a  deserter  for  not 
spelling  "  liberty"  Libby,  preceded  by  a  band,  playing  "When 
this  Cruel  War  is  Over."  "  Unembarrassed  Government,"  in 


356  THE    VETERANS. 

the  shape  of  a  six-horse  coach,  with  the  drag-chain  broke,  being 
backed  by  a  stubborn  mule  down  a  very  steep  hill  into  the  gulf 
of  despotism.  Mr.  Benjamin  looking  out  of  the  coach  window, 
and  singing  ''Peace  by  the  next  mail  from  Europo."  To  be 
painted  in  oils  (made  out  of  lard  at  $4  per  pound)  and  suspended 
in  the  Commissary  Department ! 

The  grotesque  allegory  of  this  picture  is  full  of  justice. 
Let  not  the  future  genius  who  shall  attempt  to  paint  the  slave 
holders'  rebellion,  even  if  he  should  dispense  with  "  hues  of 
earthquake  and  eclipse,"  omit  an  abundant  laying  on  of 
"  black  and  white." 

The  following  address,  recently  procured  by  a  United  States 
Scout,  and  concerning  the  genuineness  of  which  there  can  be 
no  reasonable  doubt,  is  now  being  extensively  circulated  in 
the  rebel  army.  This  is  a  correct  copy  of  the  original,  the 
italics  and  capitals  being  unchanged. 

FELLOW-SOLDIERS  OF  THE  ARMY  or  TENNESSEE:  Three  years 
ago  we  were  called  upon  to  volunteer  in  the  Confederate  army 
for  a  term  of  three  years  ;  and  we  all  nobly  responded  to  the  call, 
with  the  express  understanding  that  we  were  to  be  discharged  as 
soon  as  our  term  of  service  expired.  Indeed,  we  -were  faithfully 
assured  by  all  our  officials  that  such  a  course  would  be  pursued. 
The  Secretary  of  War  proclaimed  that  those  who  volunteered  for 
"  three  years  or  during  the  war,"  would  have  to  be  discharged 
from  the  army  at  the  end  of  three  years.  But,  to  our  utter  sur 
prise,  we  are  now  told  that  we  must  be  CONSCRIPTED  and  FORCED 
to  enter  the  army  for  another  term  of  three  years  !  Our  feelings 
are  not  to  be  consulted— WE  MUST  BE  CONSCRIPTED  ! 

Was  such  a  thing  ever  heard  of  before  ?  Do  the  annals  of  war 
furnish  a  single  instance  of  volunteer  soldiers  being  forced  to 
continue  in  the  service  after  the  expiration  of  their  term  of  ser 
vice?  Surely  not!  If  we  search  the  history  of  the  world,  from 
the  days  of  Adam  down  to  the  present,  we  will  find  that,  in  every 
instance,  a  volunteer  soldier  was  discharged  as  soon  as  his  term 
of  service  expired,  unless  he,  of  his  own  accord,  re-enlisted  as  a 
volunteer ;  and  are  we,  Americans,  once  the  boast  and  pride  of 
the  world — ARE  WE  to  be  treated  worse  than  the  heathen  of  tho 


THE    VETERANS.  357 

dark  ages  of  the  world  treated  their  soldiers  ?  Are  we  to  be  made 
the  worst  slaves  ever  known  to  the  world  ?  And  are  we  to  become 
the  laughing-stock  of  the  world? 

FELLOW-SOLDIERS  !  Is  it  not  clear  in  every  rational  mind  that 
our  pompous  and  merciless  rulers  are  daily  stealing  away  our 
rights  and  liberties,  and  reducing  us  to  the  most  abject  slavery 
ever  known  to  the  world  ?  And  shall  we  cowardly  submit  to  this 
palpable  infringement  of  our  most  sacred  rights  ?  We  were  told 
that  we  must  come  out  to  fight  for  our  rights  :  yet  our  inhuman 
leaders  are  gradually  robbing  us  of  every  right  inherited  by  na 
ture  or  transmitted  to  us  by  our  predecessors  !  The  Federals  did 
not  hesitate  to  discharge  all  their  nine-months  troops  whose  term 
of  service  expired  last  summer ;  they  were  promptly  discharged, 
and  their  places  filled  up  by  new  levies ;  and  shall  we  suffer  our 
selves  to  be  treated  worse  than  our  enemies  are  treated  ?  No, 
brave  comrades,  let's  assert  our  rights,  and  unflinchingly  main 
tain  them  !  Let's  show  our  beastly  rulers  that  they  cannot  thus 
enslave  us  because  we  are  private  soldiers !  They  have  already 
cunningly  led  us  to  the  very  threshold  of  destruction ;  they  have 
practised  one  deception  after  another  upon  us ;  they  have  told 
us  lies — HORRIBLE  LIES — to  induce  us  to  become  their  ABJECT 
SLAVES ! 

Among  the  innumerable  lies  promulgated  by  these  unmitigated 
scamps,  we  call  your  attention  to  the  following :  They  told  us 
that  the  war  would  not  last  three  months  ;  that  foreign  nations 
would  recognize  us  as  an  independent  people  and  help  us  to  fight ; 
that  the  Yankees  could  not  fight ;  that  one  of  us  could  whip  ten 
Yankees;  that  Yicksburg  could  never  be  taken;  that  Chatta 
nooga  could  never  be  taken;  that  the  Peace  party  of  the  North 
would  force  Lincoln  to  MAKE  PEACE  with  the  South  ;  THAT  WE  SOL 
DIERS  SHOULD  BE  DISCHARGED  AS  SOON  AS  OUR  TIME  EXPIRED,  and 

that  we  would  not  be  heavily  taxed.  These  are  but  a  few  of  the 
many  hypocritical  lies  proclaimed  by  those  conspirators  who  have 
precipitated  us  into  irretrievable  revolution.  Shall  we  submit  to 
be  beguiled  by  these  UNPARDONABLE  USURPERS,  and  permit  our  fami 
lies  to  STARVE  TO  DEATH,  through  want  of  our  labor  at  home  ! 

Are  we  not  aware  that  if  our  absence  from  our  families  be 
protracted  another  term  of  three  years,  many  of  them  will  suffer 
wretchedly  for  the  necessaries  of  life,  if  they  ds  not  starve  en- 


358  THE    VETERANS. 

tirely  to  death  ?  And  are  we  not  bound  by  the  MOST  SACRED 
LAWS  known  to  man  to  provide  for  our  families?  And  should 
we  permit  a  set  of  usurping  profligates  to  prevent  us  from  com 
plying  with  this  DIVINE  LAW  ?  By  the  late  laws  of  Congress, 
our  families  are  to  be  taxed  to  an  almost  unlimited  extent;  and 
if  we  submit  to  become  conscripts,  the  last  ray  of  hope  will  have 
to  be  expelled  from  our  hearts,  for  we  can  then  hope  for  nothing 

but  AN  UNTIMELY  STATE  OF  ABJECT  SLAVERY.  NOT  ONLY  OF  OUR- 
SELVES,  BUT  ALSO  OF  OUR  FAMILIES  ! 

Now  is  THE  TIME  TO  ASSERT  OUR  RIGHTS;  for,  if  we  wait  longer, 
OUR  DOOM  WILL  BE  FOREVER  SEALED  !  We  who  write  this  ad- 
dress-are  determined  to  demand  our  rights,  and,  if  necessary,  we 

Will  "DEMAND   THEM    AT    THE    POINT    OF    THE    BAYONET  !      We  are  not 

enemies  to  the  South,  but  we  are  lovers  of  our  rights,  liberties, 
&n&  families  ;  and  if  we  must  lose  all  our  sacred  rights,  and  per 
mit  our  families  to  starve,  in  order  to  sustain  our  wicked  leaders 
in  their  DECEPTIVE  COURSE,  we  prefer  to  return  to  our  ALLEGIANCE 

TO    THE    OLD    GOVERNMENT,  ACCEPT   OF    LINCOLN'S    PARDON,  and  let 

the  'leaders  and  their  CONFEDERACY  GO  TO  HELL  TOGETHER!  This 
may  be  harsh  language  for  men  who  have  fought  in  many  a 
hard  battle  to  use,  but  silent  endurance  ceases  to  be  a  VIRTUE, 
and  confident  are  we  that  the  Government  of  the  United  States 
can  treat  us  no  worse  than  we  are  being  treated  by  our  heartless 
officials,  in  the  field  as  well  as  at  Richmond. 

But  we  are  told  that  if  we  will  let  the  authorities  CONSCRIPT 
us  the  war  will  soon  close,  favorably  to  our  side !  Can  any  ra 
tional  man  credit  such  &  perfidious  lie?  Does  not  this  conscript 
ing  business  plainly  say  to  the  world  that  we  are  fast  playing 
out? — that  our  weakness  is  rapidly  manifesting  itself  even  to  our 
own  deluded  minds  ?  Fellow-soldiers,  we  have  been  too  often 
deceived  by  these  wily  liars  to  place  the  slightest  confidence  in 
anything  they  tell  us !  They  are  but  INVENTED  LIES  to  enable 
them  to  tie  the  cord  of  DESPOTISM  tighter  around  our  wrists ! 
Every  intelligent  soldier  among  us  knows  that  we  are  already 
whipped ;  and  why  not  acknowledge  it  at  once  ?  Why  not  show 
our  leaders  that  we  know  we  are  whipped  as  well  as  they  do  ? 
PRESIDENT  DAVIS  VIRTUALLY  ACKNOWLEDGES  THIS  FACT  ;  so  do 
the  SECRETARY  OF  WAR  and  the  SECRETARY  OF  THE  TREASURY  ! 
What  use  is  there  for  us  to  contend  against  a  DEAD  CURRENCY 


THE    VETERANS.  359 

and  an  EMPTY  COMMISSARY  in^he  face  of  the  best  army  ever  mar 
shaled  for  combat?  Think  of  these  things,  fellow-soldiers,  and 
decide  what  shall  be  your  course.  WE  HAVE  MADE  UP  OUR  MINDS 

TO    GO    HOME    AS    SOON    AS    OUR    TIME    IS    OUT  ! 

MANY  SOLDIERS. 

Turning  from  what  the  rebels  have  failed  to  do,  to  consider 
what  the  loyal  have  really  succeeded  in  accomplishing,  we 
may,  with  gratitude  and  pride  sum  up  the  already  secured 
results.  Out  of  a  most  formidable  and  intricate  chaos,  we 
have  evoked  order  and  symmetry.  An  army  more  powerful 
than  the  world  has  ever  seen  before,  has,  on  battle-fields,  the 
number  and  magnitude  of  which  are  without  parallel,  by  their 
deeds  of  heroism  earned  immortal  renown  for  the  Union. 
From  nothing,  our  fleets  have  growti  to  be  the  wonder  of  the 
world,  and  give  us  the  right  to  claim  naval  superiority  over 
any  power  whatever.  Our  fiscal  resources  and  ability  have 
been  manifest  to  be  so  extraordinary  and  splendid ;  they  have, 
by  the  wisest  and  most  skilful  management,  so  completely 
emancipated  us  from  the  control  of  foreign  capital,  that  the 
spectacle  confounds  the  world. 

Our  successes  in  the  field,  which  have  been  many  and  im 
portant,  have,  for  the  most  part,  been  gained  under  Generals 
who,  in  them  and  amid  scenes  of  blood  and  carnage  almost 
unequalled,  learned  the  art  of  war.  If  the  Administration  is 
held  to  account,  by  rebel  sympathizers,  for  all  the  blunders 
and  disasters  of  the  war,  let  all  loyal  men  see  that  it  also  gets, 
as  it  most  justly  deserves,  the  credit  for  all  our  victories. 
President  Lincoln  has,  with  undaunted  courage  and  exhaust- 
less  energy,  braved  all  unpopularity,  clamor,  and  reproach, 
searched  untiringly  for  able  leaders  in  our  battles,  removed 
one  after  another  as  fast  as  events  proved  that  the  right  man 
had  not  been  found,  and,  as  the  results  have  shown,  has  most 
justly  earned  the  confidence  and  love  of  the  people. 

Day  by  day  we  come  nearer  to  unanimity  of  feeling  and 
desire.  The  enemies  of  the  Government  are  dwindling  away, 


360  THE    VETERANS. 

and  its  friends  are  more  numerous  and  strong.  A  few,  led 
by  unprincipled  demagogues,  may  still  strive  to  block  the 
wheels  of  the  Administration,  but  they  are  certainly  doomed 
to  perish  with  the  more  openly  avowed  traitors  with  whom 
they  are  in  sympathy.  The  almost  unanimous  conviction  of 
our  citizens  is  Well  expressed  in  the  following  extract  from  a 
letter  from  General  Grant  to  Senator  Wilson  : 

I  have  never  been  an  anti-slavery  man,  but  I  try  to  judge  justly 
of  what  I  see.  I  made  up  my  mind  when  this  war  opened,  that 
the  North  and  South  could  only  live  together  in  peace,  as  one  na 
tion,  by  being  a  free  nation.  Slavery,  which  constituted  the 
corner-stone  of  the  so-called  Confederacy,  is  knocked  out,  and  it 
will  take  more  men  in  future  to  hold  the  black  race  as  slaves 
than  to  put  down  the  rebeflion.  Much  as  I  desire  peace,  I  am 
opposed  to  it  until  the  question  of  slavery  is  for  ever  settled. 

In  this  spirit  the  war  is  now  being  most  vigorously  pushed. 
The  victorious  end  cannot  be  far  away.  When  it  comes,  it 
will  be  attended  with  lasting  and  glorious  results.  The  col 
ored  man  will  be  emancipated  from  bondage,  and  raised  in 
the  scale  of  humanity;  the  poor  white  at  the  South  shall  be 
made  in  reality  a  freeman,  and  have  a  voice  and  a  will  in  de 
fence  of  his  own  interests;  and  the  people  of  the  North,  no 
longer  curbing  their  free  thoughts,  nor  sacrificing  conscience 
for  policy,  shall  rejoice  in  knowing  that  the  oligarchy  which 
many  of  them  served  so  long,  is  for  ever  dead. 


THE    END. 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


^231967  59 

IN  STACKS 

JAN  9    1967 

RECEIVED 

M|\R  9  1  'B7  -5  f 

M 

i  OAN  DEP1 

SENtONILL 

"    "  23  1395 

U.  C.  BERKELEY 

LD  21A-60m-7,'66 
(G4427slO)476B 


General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


YB  37837 


M157155 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  UBRARY 


